Effects of Anti-T Cell (Theta) and Anti-B Cell (Beta) Serum on the Immune Response in Mice

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Abstract
Heterologous anti-B cell (anti-beta) serum was prepared in rabbits against the spleen from neonatally thymectomized mice. The anti-beta serum, after absorption with thymus, is cytotoxic for bone marrow, bone marrow-derived cells, fetal liver and peritoneal lymphocytes. The cytotoxicity to the B cell can be absorbed out with bone marrow. The cytotoxic effects of anti-beta serum on spleen and lymph node cells is compared to that of anti-theta serum. The data suggest that spleen has relatively more B than T cells, while lymph node has relatively more theta-positive cells. To test the effect of anti-beta and anti-theta serum on the functional activity of lymphoid cells, C57 spleen or thymus was pre-incubated with the antiserum, in the presence of complement, and tested in vivo for graft-vs-host activity or transfer of an adoptive immune response to SRBC. Treatment with anti-beta serum does not decrease the graft-vs-host activity of thymus or spleen cells. Anti-theta serum does decrease the graft-vs-host activity of both thymus and spleen cells. Neither anti-beta serum nor anti-theta serum affect the phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages. Both anti-beta serum and anti-theta serum decrease the transfer of an adoptive primary and secondary immune response to SRBC. A combination of anti-theta and anti-beta treated spleen can transfer adoptive immunity. Thymus and bone marrow can reconstitute the immunocompetence of anti-theta or anti-beta treated spleen respectively. The results suggest that T cells alone can mount a graft-vs-host reaction and that this activity is not affected by anti-beta serum. The transfer of a humoral antibody response, on the other hand, requires functionally active T- and B-cells. This holds true for a primary as well as secondary immune response. Our anti-beta serum does not appear to have any anti-macrophage activity.