Immune interferon secretion as an expression of immunological memory to transplantation antigens: in vivo generation of long‐lived, recirculating memory cells

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Abstract
Leukocytes from C57BL/6 mice immunized against DBA/2 strain antigens by intraperitoneal injection of mastocytoma P 815 cells produced, when stimulated in the mixed leukocyte reaction assay with DBAI2 spleen cells, an earlier and more intense secretion of immune interferon than leukocytes from untreated mice. This secondary-type interferon response was independent of cell proliferation. The memory phenomenon was induced by long-lived, recirculating lymphocytes found in spleen, lymph nodes and thoracic duct, but not in the thymus. Memory cells could be recruited into inflammatory sites. They were shown to be specific for H-2 alloantigens, although some cross-reactivity with stimulating cells bearing unrelated H-2 antigens was observed. The possible anti-tumor, antiviral and immunoregulatory roles of this memory phenomenon, and its significance in transplantation immunity are discussed.