SUB-POPULATIONS OF SPLENIC T-CELLS REGULATING AN ANTIHAPTEN ANTIBODY-RESPONSE .2. DISTINCT FUNCTIONS OF, AND SEQUENTIAL REQUIREMENT FOR, HELPER AND AMPLIFIER CELLS

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  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 121  (1) , 130-137
Abstract
In adoptive transfer experiments [in mice], 2 classes of peripheral T [thymus derived] lymphocytes, carrier-primed helper (TH) and carrier-primed amplifier (TA) cells, synergized in the induction of a primary anti-hapten Ig[immunoglobulin]G response by virgin B [bone marrow derived] cells. Purified TH and TA had separate functions and were required at different times during the antigen-driven development of the response. TH were required early, and provided an initiating signal to B cells in the presence of the specific hapten-carrier conjugate. The differentiative nature of this signal was inferred from the threshold dose-response relationship and the insensitivity of the TH-directed event to the antimitotic agent vinblastine. TA were required 4 days later and provided an amplifying signal to B cells in the presence of the same hapten-carrier conjugate. The proliferative nature of this 2nd signal was inferred from the exponential dose-response relationship and the exquisite sensitivity of the TA-directed event to vinblastine. Virgin B cells became susceptible to the TA signal only after receiving the TH signal. TH and TA did not synergize in true secondary responses since hapten-primed B cells depended only on the TH signal to generate large numbers of IgG antibody-forming cells.