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Thymus-dependent Functions of Mouse Thymocyte-Fibroblast Hybrid Cells

Nature New Biology volume 245, pages 14–16 (1973)Cite this article

Abstract

THE cells involved in the immune response are of thymus-derived (T) and bone marrow-derived (B) origins1,2. Experiments in vivo and in vitro have established that both T and B cells demonstrate antigenic specificity3,4 and that the antibody-producing cell is of B origin1. The function of single antibody-producing cells has been studied in vitro by sensitive antibody-detecting systems5. The study of the function of single T cells has not been possible as experiments on T cell function usually require large numbers of cells. Attempts to cultivate and clone thymocytes in long term tissue culture have been unsuccessful. When short term thymocyte cultures are obtained, they are comprised of heterogeneous cell populations which preclude the study of single cell function6. Many different methods have been used to decrease the heterogeneity of T cells including cell destruction by specific antisera (θ)7, biological manipulation of the source animal (the induction of specific tolerance), density gradient separation8,9 and specific antigenic reactivity10. None of these methods has achieved a homogeneous T cell population.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Immunology Division, Department of Medicine, Children's Hospital Medical Center, and the Departments of Pediatrics and Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, 02115

    ROBERTSON PARKMAN & EZIO MERLER

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  1. ROBERTSON PARKMAN
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  2. EZIO MERLER
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PARKMAN, R., MERLER, E. Thymus-dependent Functions of Mouse Thymocyte-Fibroblast Hybrid Cells. Nature New Biology 245, 14–16 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1038/newbio245014a0

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