Abstract
The immune response of mouse spleen cells to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) in vitro depends on the presence of thymus derived helper lymphocytes (T cells). This has been demonstrated by depleting spleen cells of T cells by treatment with complement and anti-θ serum1 and showing that the in vitro immune response can be restored by addition of antigen sensitized syngeneic or allogeneic T cells2. Although un-sensitized syngeneic T cells usually fail to restore the immune response of spleens deprived of T cells (B spleens), unsensitized allogeneic thymus cells do so3. This “allogeneic effect” can act through factors released in the culture supernatant of allogeneic lymph cell mixtures4. We show here that xenogeneic (rat) thoracic duct cells (RTDC), whether antigen sensitized or not, can restore an in vitro immune response of thymus-depleted mouse spleen cells. They stimulate antigen specific T cell responses by two mechanisms. In one, they substitute both for the carrier and the carrier-specific T cells and thus stimulate T cell response to a low molecular weight hapten. In the other, they stimulate T cells through amplification of the effect of a small number of carrier-specific mouse T cells.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
We are sorry, but there is no personal subscription option available for your country.
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
Schimpl, A., and Wecker, E., Nature, 226, 1258 (1970).
Hartmann, K. U., J. Exp. Med., 132, 1267 (1970).
Schimpl, A., and Wecker, E., Eur. J. Immunol., 1, 304 (1971).
Schimpl, A., and Wecker, E., Nature New Biology, 237, 15 (1972).
Mishell, R. I., and Dutton, R. W., J. Exp. Med., 126, 423 (1967).
Adler, W. H., Takiguchi, T., Marsh, B., and Smith, R. T., J. Immunol., 105, 984 (1970).
Reif, A. E., and Allen, J. M. V., J. Exp. Med., 120, 413 (1964).
Dennert, G., and Lennox, E. S., Nature New Biology, 238, 114 (1972).
Rittenberg, M. B., and Pratt, K. L., Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med., 132, 575 (1969).
Britton, S., Scand. J. Immunol., 1, 89 (1972).
Katz, D. H., Davie, J. M., Paul, W. E., and Benacerraf, B., J. Exp. Med., 134, 201 (1971).
Feldmann, M., and Basten, A., J. Exp. Med., 136, 722 (1972).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
DENNERT, G., LENNOX, E. Rat Thoracic Duct Cells as a Substitute for T Cells and Carrier in the Antibody Response of Mouse Spleens deficient in Thymus Cells. Nature New Biology 243, 214–216 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1038/newbio243214a0
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/newbio243214a0