ANTIGEN-INITIATED B-LYMPHOCYTE DIFFERENTIATION .14. NONSPECIFIC EFFECTS OF ANTIGEN STIMULATION CAUSE PROLIFERATION IN PRE-PROGENITOR SUBSET OF PRIMARY B-CELLS

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 121  (5) , 2060-2065
Abstract
The effect of specific and nonspecific stimuli on the cycle status of subsets of primary B [bone marrow-derived] lymphocytes was assessed by preinjecting donor CBA mice 1-2 days previously with various substances, and then incubating the isolated spleen cells with high specific activity 3H-TdR [thymidine] before assay. AFC[antibody-forming cell] progenitor activity was assessed as a response to NIP-POL [4-hydroxy-3-iodo-5-nitrophenylacetic acid hapten-polymerized bacterial flagellin carrier] antigen by adopive transfer to irradiated recipients or by cell culture. These assays reflected the activity of different subsets of B cells, termed pre-progenitors (adoptive assay) and direct progenitors (culture assay). Most functional primary B cells, whether assayed in culture or by adoptive transfer, were not initially in rapid cell cycle in normal adult mice. Nonspecific stimulation for 1 day caused NIP-specific adoptive transfer Ig[immunoglobulin]M AFC-progenitors to enter rapid cell cycle. This effect was independent of T [thymus-derived] cells and not related to the antigenicity of the stimulus: particulate peritoneal irritants were the most effective stimulants. AFC-progenitors assayed in cell culture were unaffected by nonspecific stimuli, but were activated into cell cycle by specific antigen.