CHARACTERIZATION OF THE ROLE OF MONONUCLEAR CELL SUB-POPULATIONS IN THE INVITRO LYMPHOCYTE-PROLIFERATION ASSAY

Abstract

Purified human mononuclear cell subpopulations were evaluated in the in vitro lymphocyte proliferation assay. Monocyte-depleted mononuclear cells had reduced or absent responses to mitogens and antigens [Ag] which could be restored to the original mononuclear cell response by addition of purified plastic adherent cells. Purified T [thymus-derived] lymphocytes obtained by density gradient centrifugation of E[sheep erythrocyte]-rosette-forming cells demonstrated low but significant proliferative responses to mitogens but no significant response to Ag. The addition of monocytes potentiated the response of purified T cells to mitogens and Ag but did not fully reconstitute the original mononuclear cell response unless non-T lymphocytes were present. Mononuclear cell proliferation represents a complex mechanism of cellular interaction involving multiple subpopulations of cells.