Heterogeneous and monoclonal helper T cells induce similar anti‐(4‐hydroxy‐3‐nitrophenyl)acetyl (NP) antibody populations in the primary adoptive response I. Isotype distribution

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Abstract
In the response to NP‐lipopolysaccharide or NP‐Ficoll predominantly anti‐NP antibodies of the IgM class are produced in mice with lower amounts of IgG3 and IgG2b but little or no IgG1 and IgG2a. In contrast, in the primary T‐dependent response to NP‐keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) or NP‐chicken gamma globulin high amounts of all IgG isotypes are induced. To investigate whether isotype‐specific T cells are responsible for these differences we carried out cell transfer experiments using carrier‐specific T cell lines. Two such lines were established and one of the two could be cloned. Upon activation by antigen the T cell lines induced unprimed syngeneic splenic B cells to proliferate and differentiate into antibody‐secreting cells in vitro in an antigen‐nonspecific way. Antigen‐specific activation of unprimed B cells in a cell transfer system in vivo showed that high concentrations of hapten‐specific antibodies of all IgG isotypes are induced through both carrier‐specific T helper lines. The isotypic pattern of these antibodies is similar to that produced via heterogeneous splenic T cells in the cell transfer system, or in normal animals on immunization with the same antigen. These results suggest that isotype‐specific T cells are not required for the production of IgG isotypes in a primary anti‐NP response and thus not responsible for the differences seen in isotypic patterns between T‐dependent and T‐independent responses.

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