HLA‐D/DR Restriction of Macrophage‐dependent Antigen Activation of Immune T Lymphocytes: Cross‐reacting Allogeneic HLA‐D/DR May Partly Substitute for Self HLA‐D/DR

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Abstract
Optimal proliferative response of T lymphocytes to purified protein derivative of tuberculin (PPD) III vitro requires that antigen be presented by autologous macrophages or allogeneic macrophages sharing HLA‐D/DR determinants with the T cell donor. In some cases, however, T cells may respond to a limited extent to PPD in association with macrophages expressing different HLA‐D/DR determinants. In this paper experiments are presented where various combinations of T cells and HLA‐D/DR disparate macrophages were stimulated with PPD. We often found a stronger PPD‐specific response in HLA‐D/DR‐incompatible combinations in which the macrophages carried HLA‐DR antigens known from serological studies to be cross‐reactive with those of the T cell donor than in combinations in which this was not the case. Thus, the cross‐reactions detected by serology may sometimes be reflected on a functional level in T lymphocyte/macrophage cooperation.