Helper function of T cells depleted of alloantigen-reactive lymphocytes by filtration through irradiated F1 hybrid recipients. I. Failure to collaborate with allogeneic B cells in a secondary response to sheep erythrocytes measured in vivo.

Abstract

Helper T [thymus-derived] cells were obtained by injecting heavily irradiated semiallogeneic mice with lymph node cells from H-2-incompatible parental strain mice primed with sheep erythrocytes (SRC) 2 mo. before. Thoracic duct lymphocytes collected from the recipients 18-40 h later (nearly all of which were .theta.-positive and of donor origin) were toatally and specifically unresponsive against host-type determinants in mixed-lymphocyte culture. The filtered cells were transferred to irradiated semiallogeneic mice together with SRC and anti-.theta.-serum-treated (B [bone marrow-derived] cells from SRC-primed syngeneic, semiallogeneic or allogeneic mice. When antibody-forming cells were measured in the spleen 5-9 days later, effective IgM [immunoglobulin M] and IgG collaborative responses were observed with syngeneic and semiallogeneic B cells but not with allogeneic cells. The failure to obtain collaboration with the allogeneic B cells was probably not due to inhibition of the B cells by the T cells or vice versa.