RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TRINITROPHENYL AND H-2 ANTIGENS ON TRINITROPHENYL-MODIFIED SPLEEN-CELLS .1. H-2 ANTIGENS ON CELLS TREATED WITH TRINITROBENZENE SULFONIC-ACID ARE DERIVATIZED

Abstract

Spleen cells were treated with TNBS [trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid] to determine if cell surface H-2 antigens are derivatized with TNP [trinitrophenol]. By labeling the cell membrane of the TNP-modified cells with 125I, followed by detergent lysis and immune precipitation with anti-TNP, it was determined that no H-2 antigenic activity remained in the supernatant. By the use of an antibody-induced antigen redistribution assay, it was found that previous exposure of TNP-modified cells to anti-TNP in the absence of complement rendered these cells resistant to lysis by anti-H-2 in the presence of complement. At the concentration of TNBS used for modification, H-2 antigens are probably derivatized with TNP. Other proteins including immunoglobulin were also derivatized with TNP. Anti-TNP cytotoxic effector cells were blocked from their cytotoxic activity by anti-TNP antiserum. TNP probably directly couples to H-2 antigens on the cell surface of TNP-modified cells; TNP is apparently associated with the antigenic determinant that the cytotoxic T [thymus-derived] cell recognizes.