ANTIGEN-B-SPECIFIC HELPER FACTOR FROM TIMOTHY GRASS-POLLEN - ISOLATION AND PARTIAL CHARACTERIZATION

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 44  (2) , 373-379
Abstract
Spleen cells from LAF1 mice primed with photo-oxidized antigen B exhibit helper T-cell activity when assayed in an adoptive transfer system with spleen cells from mice primed with timothy pollen extract and treated with anti-Thy 1.2 serum and complement. These helper cells, when placed in culture with antigen B, secrete a soluble antigen B-specific helper factor (THF) that requires the presence of normal spleen cells or cells that do not adhere to nylon wool to exhibit T cell-replacing activity. THF was partially purified over an immobilized antigen adsorbent. The eluted THF exhibits a MW of 65,000 by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and contains 5% carbohydrate by weight. The THF is I-Ak-positive and Ig-negative.