DISTRIBUTION OF IMMUNOGENIC CELLS AFTER PAINTING WITH THE CONTACT SENSITIZERS FLUORESCEIN ISOTHIOCYANATE AND OXAZOLONE - DIFFERENT SENSITIZERS FORM IMMUNOGENIC COMPLEXES WITH DIFFERENT CELL-POPULATIONS

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  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 39  (1) , 21-27
Abstract
Distribution of fluorescent cells in draining lymph nodes of mice painted with the contact sensitizing agent fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) was investigated using a fluorescence-activated cell sorter. Up to 30% of the cells were fluorescent after 18 h; this decreased thereafter, becoming undetectable after 4-5 days. Most fluorescent cells were morphologically lymphocytes, .theta.-ve and adherent to nylon wool. Immunogenicity of these cells was tested by injecting them into the footpads of normal mice and measuring contact sensitivity after 6 days. This was restricted to large cells which represented less than 5% of the white cell population and nearly all of which became fluorescent after skin painting. Large fluorescent cells were a mixture of monocytes and lymphocytes. Most lymphocytes had surface immunoglobulin. Immunogenicity was reduced by nylon filtration but was not affected by silica and anti-.theta.. These results showed that immunogenicity is not associated with T [thymus-derived] cells. Similar immunogenic activity in draining lymph nodes of mice painted with oxazolone is associated with T cells. Different sensitizers form immunogenic complexes with different cell populations, perhaps in this case because of the different water solubilities of FITC and oxazolone. This may cause important differences in antigen presentation, such as in their association with different MHC [major histocompatibility complex] products.

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