Lymphocyte transformation and macrophage migration in guinea-pigs immunized with Freund's complete adjuvant.

  • 1 December 1969
    • journal article
    • Vol. 5  (6) , 659-67
Abstract
In vitro peripheral blood lymphocyte transformation and peritoneal macrophage migration in the presence of purified protein derivative have been studied at weekly intervals in Freund's complete adjuvant sensitized guinea-pigs. Peripheral blood lymphocytes from half of the sensitized animals when cultured with purified protein derivative 1 week after immunization manifested more than double the thymidine-2-14C incorporation of the unstimulated cells. By the 3rd week after immunization the response of the lymphocytes to antigen was maximal. The average of peritoneal cell migration inhibition was statistically significant only in the group of animals examined 3 weeks after immunization. The in vitro peripheral blood lymphocyte transformation was closely related with the appearance of the delayed cutaneous reactivity while the migration of peritoneal cells was markedly inhibited only when there was much evidence of in vivo delayed hypersensitivity and of in vitro peripheral blood lymphocyte response to antigen. No relationship has been demonstrated between these in vitro phenomena and the presence in the sera of anti-purified protein derivative haemagglutinating antibodies.