In-vitro effect of Salmonella flagellin on mouse splenocytes in relation to ammonium chloride

Antigen processing and presentation is a key phenomenon in the process of mounting an effective immune response against a plethora of antigen. This process is essential in recognition of antigen with self Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) complexes by specific T-cells. In present study, we investigated the influence of flagellin on sensitised mouse splenocytes for its presentation through endocytic pathway via MHC class-II molecules on the 20th day post immunisation. In-vitro lymphocyte proliferation was analysed against salmonella flagellin by measuring the optical density at 550 nm using MTT colourimetry resulting in a significantly lower blastogenic response in presence of ammonuium chloride. Thus, it could be concluded from the above study that ammonium chloride, a lysosomotropic agent has inhibitory effect on antigen presentation thereby decreasing the lymphocytes proliferation in presence of a standard model antigen. This inhibitory effect may be due to its action on the endocytic pathway of antigen processing and presentation. However, present study warrants further investigation into the effect of flagellin for its processing and presentation.