Differentiation of Lymphocytes Undergoing an Immune Response in Diffusion Chambers

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Summary: No transformation of lymphocytes into histiocytes and fibroblasts was observed when cell-impermeable diffusion chambers containing rat thoracic duct lymphocytes were implanted intraperitoneally in unirradiated isologous or homologous recipients. When such chambers were implanted into irradiated heterologous recipients (mice), or when chambers containing these cells together with radiation-killed mouse cells were implanted into irradiated isologous recipients, the number of blast and immature cells increased with a T2 of approximately 13 hr between 2 and 6 days after culture. These cells were shown not to be of host origin. Pulse-labeling studies with tritiated thymidine indicated that they were derived mainly from deoxyribonucleic acid-synthesizing lymphocytes. No attempt was made to determine what cell type or types are the antigen-inducible progenitor cells, for previous studies indicate there is only 1 progenitor cell in approximately 106 lymphoid cells.