Antigen-Binding Cells

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Spleen, thymus and peritoneal cells of immunized mice were incubated with radioactive antigens and studied by autoradiography. A small number of lymphocytes in the spleen (0.1% to 0.5%) but very few in the thymus (0.01%) bind radioactive hemocyanin. The binding of antigen to lymphocytes apparently takes place by antibody receptors on their membranes. Exposure of most lymphocytes to antibodies to Ig blocked the binding. It was also found that the number of cells binding weak or strong immunogens was similar. Lymphocytes have been found that bind an autologous antigen, murine growth hormone. No lymphocytes bind mouse albumin. Incubation of spleen cells from immune or non-immune mice with highly radioactive KLH in vitro suppressed the capacity of the cells to adaptively transfer an immune response in x-irradiated mice. The inactivation of the adoptive immunity was specific since the treated cells made antibody to unrelated antigens. Macrophages took up radioactive antigen and this uptake was not blocked by exposure to anti-Ig.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: