Lymphocytes in Peyer's Patches of the Mouse: Analysis of the Constituent Cells in Terms of Their Capacities to Mediate Functions of Mature T and B Lymphocytes

Abstract

The present studies were designed to assess the functional capacities of Peyer's patch lymphocytes (gut-associated lymphoid tissue [GALT]) in the mouse with a system for adoptive transfer of immunity to hapten-carrier conjugates. These functional studies of GALT have been performed in parallel with studies of spleen lymphocytes from the very same primed donor mice in order to establish a positive baseline of function for comparison of immunocompetence. The results of these experiments demonstrate the presence in GALT of lymphocytes capable of performing a carrier-specific helper cell function which is a well-documented property of mature thymus-derived (T) lymphocytes. In contrast, another function of mature T cells, namely the capacity to mediate a graft vs host (GVH) reaction as assessed by the allogeneic effect, is absent in such GALT lymphocytes. The capacity to function as hapten-specific presursors of antibody-secreting cells, a property of mature bone marrow-derived (B) lymphocytes, is also lacking in GALT lymphocytes. These findings indicate that marked functional differences exist between GALT and recognized peripheral lymphoid tissues and lend support to the notion that such lymphoid aggregates may perform a unique and/or perhaps, in part, a central lymphoid function.