Apoptotic cells, e.g. postinflammatory neutrophils, were reported to be engulfed by phagocytes without induction of an inflammatory response. We investigated the humoral immune response of BALB/c mice after repeated injection of viable or apoptotic human T cells. Following interleukin‐2 (IL‐2) deprivation, phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)/IL‐2 expanded human T‐cell lines were irradiated with UV‐B light to induce apoptosis, confirmed by propidium iodide staining of Triton X‐100‐lysed cells. Indirect immunofluorescence was used to detect antilymphocyte antibodies 7 days after each injection. We found high levels of antilymphocyte antibodies in all animals immunized with viable T cells, whereas animals injected with apoptotic cells showed a significantly reduced humoral immune response. We conclude that apoptotic cells induce poor xenoreactive T‐cell responses when compared with viable cells.

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