Cells involved in the in vitro stimulation by DNP-carrier complexes of in vivo primed mouse spleen cells.

  • 1 November 1974
    • journal article
    • Vol. 27  (5) , 771-9
Abstract
The target cell of in vitro stimulation of primed spleen cells by hapten—carrier complexes was studied. The antigens DNP28—bovine serum albumin (DNP28—BSA), which gives only 2,4-dinitrophenyl (DNP) specific responses and DNP14—mouse immunoglobulin (DNP14—MIg), which probably reveals DNP as well as carrier specificity (new antigenic determinant) were used. Educated T cells could be stimulated with the antigens used for activation. A similar experiment with educated B cells, however, gave no indication that these B cells could be stimulated with antigen in the absence of T cells. Cortisone treatment of primed mice yielded spleen cells which had a higher activity than spleen cells from unprimed, cortisone-treated mice. This also points to stimulation of T cells by antigen. Treatment of primed spleen cells with anti-thymocyte serum (ATS) and complement (C) abolished stimulation by phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) completely, by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) slightly, while the antigen-specific activity was 90 per cent reduced. This indicates a mainly T cell-specific stimulation by the antigen. A corresponding experiment with anti-plasma cell serum (APCS) and C revealed a complete reduction of LPS activity and a small impairment of the PHA and conavalin A (Con A) activity. However, the antigen-specific activity was reduced by one-third to a half for the different antigens. This is an indication for a specific B-cell stimulation by the antigen, although it is on a lower level than the T-cell stimulation. The role of the hapten in the T-cell stimulation is discussed.