RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TRINITROPHENOL AND H-2 ANTIGENS ON TRINITROPHENYL-MODIFIED SPLEEN-CELLS .3. QUANTITATIVE ASPECTS OF TRINITROPHENOL BINDING ON CELLS TREATED WITH TRINITROBENZENE SULFONIC-ACID

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 121  (3) , 997-1001
Abstract
Splenic lymphoblasts or normal spleen cells were treated with varying concentrations of TNBS [trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid] to assess whether cell membrane H-2 molecules were derivatized with TNP [trinitrophenol]. Cells treated with high concentrations of TNBS had their cell membrane H-2 molecules derivatized and functioned antigenically as inhibitors in a cold target TNP-CML [cell mediated lympholysis] competition assay. Cells derivatized with lower concentrations of TNBS had a significant proportion of their membrane proteins derivatized with TNP but did not have their H-2 molecules derivatized. These latter cells were unable to block anti-TNP cytotoxic effector cells in the competition assay. When cells were treated with 3H-TNBS, TNP coupled to cell membrane H-2, Ia [immune response associated] and Ig [immunoglobulin] molecules and an estimate of the number of TNP molecules bound per cell at varying concentrations of TNBS was determined. There is a requirement for TNP to directly derivatize H-2 molecules on the cell membrane in order to create antigenic determinants that can be recognized by cytotoxic anti-TNP effector cells. There may be a requirement for the presence of a high density of TNP molecules per cell rather than direct H-2 derivatization by TNP in order to account for activity.