EFFECT OF CYTOKINES ON SPECIFIC INVITRO IMMUNIZATION OF HUMAN PERIPHERAL LYMPHOCYTES-B AGAINST T-CELL DEPENDENT ANTIGENS

  • 1 May 1987
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 61  (1) , 51-55
Abstract
The requirements for a primary, antigen-specific in vitro immunization of human peripheral lymphocytes using haemocyanin, a T-cell dependent antigen, have been studied. In order to obtain a specific response in vitro the peripheral lymphocytes had to be separated into B, T, accessory (A) and dendritic (D) cells. These cells were activated and reconstituted to give a population with a B:T ratio of 1:2. If the induction was supported by MHC-restricted, radioresistant T cells, this cell population could then be antigen-specifically activated using haemocyanin. The immunization had also to be supported by cytokines, such as B-cell growth and differentiation factors, interleukin-2 and .gamma.-interferon. A 5-day in vitro immunization using 2 .mu.g haemocyanin/ml resulted in 200-300 cells secreting anti-haemocyanin-specific antibodies per 106 B cells.