RECRUITMENT OF EFFECTOR LYMPHOCYTES BY INITIATOR LYMPHOCYTES - CIRCULATING LYMPHOCYTES ARE TRAPPED IN REACTING LYMPH-NODE

  • 1 January 1976
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 117  (2) , 608-613
Abstract
In previous studies, it was shown that initiator T [thymus-derived] lymphocytes (ITL) [mouse] sensitized in vitro recruit effector T lymphocytes in vivo. When ITL were sensitized against fibroblast antigens in vitro, and injected into footpads of syngeneic recipients, they induced enlargement of the draining popliteal lymph node (PLN) and the development there of specific effector lymphocytes of recipient origin. To study the basis of this lymph node response in recruitment, 51Cr-labeled spleen cells were injected i.v. into recipients of sensitized ITL. The labeled circulating lymphocytes were trapped in the reacting PLN. The trapping depended on surface properties of the labeled circulating lymphocytes, as revealed by various enzymatic treatments. The trapping process was radiosensitive, on the part of the trapped lymphocytes and the lymph node-trapping mechanism. Sensitized ITL injected into the hind footpads migrate to the PLN and induce the trapping of circulating recruitable lymphocytes, which differentiate into or regulate the differentiation of effector T lymphocytes.