サルコイドーシス肺病態へのPropionibacterium acnesの関与に関する研究 第2編 Propionibacterium acnesによる実験的肺肉芽腫症作製の試み

Propionibacterium acnes (P.acnes) has been isolated in high incidence from biopsied specimens obtained from patients with sarcoidosis. In some reports, P.acnes successfully produced localized granulomatous changes in experimental animals, but not systemic granulomatous changes. The present study was undertaken to analyze the formation of granulomatous lesions, especially the immunological mechanism of epitheloid granuloma formation, induced by sensitization with P.acnes.Intratracheal administration of P.acnes to guinea pigs presensitized intradermally with P.acnes produced epitheloid granulomas and alveolitis in the lungs. In the animals with pulmonary granulomatosis, the number of lymphocytes was significantly increased in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and the response rate of lymphocytes stimulated by P.acnes was significantly elevated compared with animals without granulomatosis.This study proves that P.acnes activates alveolar lymphocytes in sensitized animals, and suggests that the activated lymphocytes play a central role in the induction of alveolitis in sarcoidosis patients.