Inhibition of the interaction of mycobacteria with Schwann cells by antimycobacterial antibodies.

The effect of antimycobacterial serum on the uptake of Mycobacterium w by 33B rat Schwannoma cell line and rat peritoneal macrophages was studied. Incubation of Mycobacterium w with antimycobacterial serum caused a marked inhibition of its uptake by 33B cells but did not diminish its uptake by macrophages. These results suggest that the mechanism of the interaction of mycobacteria with Schwann cells differs from that with macrophages.