Lymphocyte Transformation after Exposure to Antigen at 4° C

Abstract

SENSITIZED lymphocytes need to be exposed to antigens for only a short time in vitro to commit them to transform into blast cells¹. It is not known how, if at all, antigen is incorporated into or onto sensitized cells. There is good evidence that after lymphocyte transformation antigen can be found in non-specific macrophages, but not in the specifically transformed blast cells themselves². Dr H. J.-P. Ryser (personal communication) suggested that a study of the influence of temperature on the duration of exposure of lymphocytes to antigen needed in vitro to induce blast transformation might suggest whether biological processes were involved. If an enzyme-mediated biological system controls recognition or uptake of antigen, a short exposure to antigen at 4° C should not cause sensitized lymphocytes to transform. Our experimental results do not support this hypothesis.