HUMAN T-CELL PROLIFERATION IN RESPONSE TO ESCHERICHIA-COLI PRESENTED BY AUTOLOGOUS MACROPHAGES IS ANTIGEN SPECIFIC

  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 54  (1) , 95-102
Abstract
Interactions of human T cells and macrophages/monocytes (MO) following stimulation by a gram-negative microorganism (E. coli) were investigated. Immunoadsorption studies showed that the E. coli-induced proliferative response of human T cells was antigen specific. The T cell pool was selectively depleted of E. coli reactive cells by short exposure to autologous E. coli pulsed MO. This treatment did not remove T cell reactivity directed towards an unrelated antigen (tetanus toxoid). This demonstrated the antigen specificity of the immunoadsorption step, which was further confirmed by reconstitution of E. coli reactivity after supplementing the adsorbed T cell pool with E. coli specific T cells. The MO requirement for the E. coli-induced T cell response was confirmed and kinetic studies showed a dose-dependence with respect to the amount of E. coli used for E. coli-induced T cell proliferation and the efficiency of immunoadsorption.