T-helper responses following Borrelia burgdorferi infection in mice determine susceptibility to Lyme arthritis. The ratio of interleukin 4-positive, CD4+ to gamma interferon IFN-gamma)-positive, CD4+ T cells was significantly greater in infected BALB/cJ mice than in infected C3H/HeJ mice. Increased numbers of IFN-gamma-producing cells predicted greater arthritis severity, and CD8+ T cells were the main source of IFN-gamma in both strains.

*CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/IMMUNOLOGY *Lyme Disease/IMMUNOLOGY *Th1 Cells/IMMUNOLOGY *Th2 Cells/IMMUNOLOGY

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