THE TRANSFER OF LYMPH NODE CELLS IN THE STUDY OF THE IMMUNE RESPONSE TO FOREIGN PROTEINS

Abstract

Known numbers of lymph node cells from donor rabbits were transferred immediately or subsequent to incubation with or without antigen to recipient rabbits which had been made immunologically inert by X-radiation. These recipient rabbits were then stimulated with trace-labeled I131 bovine gamma globulins or I131 bovine serum albumin. When the cells were obtained from donor rabbits, immunized several weeks prior to sacrifice, a secondary immune response to antigen was observed in the recipients. The amount of antibody detected at the peak of the antibody response was determined by the quantitative precipitin reaction. The total amount of antibody protein produced by the known number of lymph node cells was calculated from this amount observed at the peak of antibody response. The weight of the antibody protein produced was approximately 2/3 of the wet weight of the transferred lymph node cells, mostly lymphocytes. A primary immune response by the transferred cells could not be elicited. When normal or previously immunized lymph node cells were incubated with antigen for periods up to one hour, washed and injected into immunologically inert recipients, no antibody production was observed.