PERITONEAL-EXUDATE LYMPHOCYTES-T WITH SPECIFICITY TO SHEEP RED BLOOD-CELLS .2. INFLAMMATORY HELPER T-CELLS AND EFFECTOR T-CELLS IN MICE WITH DELAYED-TYPE HYPERSENSITIVITY AND IN SUPPRESSED MICE

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 38  (1) , 51-55
Abstract
Peritoneal exudate cells were induced in mice 4 days after immunization with SRBC [sheep red blood cells]. A low dose of SRBC (106 i.v.) caused T [thymus-derived] lymphocytes to appear in inflammatory exudates. These cells not only transferred DTH [delayed-type hypersensitivity] reactions, but also functioned as helper T cells in antibody production after transfer to syngeneic nu/nu recipient mice. After a high SRBC dose (109 i.v.), very few helper T cells and no DTH transferring T cells were found in inflammatory exudates, although they were present in the spleen. T cells mediating DTH reactions and helper T cells may behave similarly as far as the dose appearance dependency in inflammatory exudates is concerned. A high sensitizing antigen dose caused retention of helper and effector T cells in the spleen, in this way favoring antibody formation; low antigen doses allow them to leave the spleen, thus favoring mediation of DTH reactions in the periphery.