The Requirement for Macrophage-Lymphocyte Interaction in T Lymphocyte Proliferation Induced by Generation of Aldehydes on Cell Membranes

Abstract

Guinea pig T lymphocyte proliferation induced by sodium periodate (NaIO₄) or neuraminidase-galactose oxidase (NG) occurs when lymphocytes and macrophages are cultured together after treatment of either purified T lymphocytes or macrophages with these agents. Regardless of which cell initially bears the modified surface carbohydrate, lymphocyte proliferation requires the presence of viable homologous macrophages and fails to occur when they are replaced with fibroblasts, erythrocytes, L₂C leukemia cells, thymocytes, PMN, line I hepatoma cells, or murine macrophages. Lymphocyte proliferation resulting from NaIO₄ or NG treatment of lymphocytes is diminished when these cells are treated with proteolytic enzymes or aged in in vitro culture for 48 hr. By contrast, proteolytic enzyme treatment or in vitro aging has no effect on the ability of NaIO₄ or NG-treated macrophages to induce lymphocyte proliferation. The requirement for macrophage-lymphocyte interaction in NaIO₄ or NG-induced lymphocyte proliferation is indicative of a central role for the macrophage in the initiation of T lymphocyte proliferation.