Cells Involved in the Immune Response

Abstract

Cells of the different lymphoid organs in the normal adult rabbit were investigated for their capacity to respond in vitro to a number of stimuli, such as phytohemagglutinin (PHA), anti-rabbit immunoglobulin antiserum (GARIG) and allogeneic and xenogeneic lymphoid cells, and for their capacity to adsorb radioactively-labeled anti-immunoglobulin antiserum. The bone marrow cells responded minimally to PHA, GARIG, and the allogeneic and xenogeneic stimuli. The thymus cells were unable to respond to stimulation with GARIG although they responded to the other stimuli. The cells of the other lymphoid organs tested responded to all the mitogenic agents, to varying degrees. On the basis of the results presented and the findings of other investigators, it is concluded that: 1. The response of the cells to GARIG indicates a potential capacity to mediate humoral immunity and requires the presence of immunoglobulin or immunoglobulin-like recognition sites on the cell surface. 2. The response of the cells to PHA and allogeneic and xenogeneic cells indicates a potential capacity to mediate cellular immunity and does not necessitate the presence of immunoglobulin-recognition sites on the cell surface. 3. The thymus in the normal adult rabbit consists of cells capable of mediating cellular immunity only. 4. The other lymphoid organs appear to possess cells capable of mediating humoral and cellular immunity.

Cellular Interactions in the Proliferative Response of Human T and B Lymphocytes to Phytomitogens and Allogeneic Lymphocytes

“…Strong evidence exists that in various animal species isolated T and B cells do both respond directly to PWM (36,41,42). However, thymic dependence of PWM-stimulatett cells in rats (43) and mice (44) has also been reported.…”

Cells Involved in the Immune Response

“…Incubation of rabbit lymphoid cells with GARIG has previously been shown to result in blastogenesis and mitosis after a minimum of 3 days in culture (1). However, the GARIG had to be in contact with the cells for the entire duration of culture in order to facilitate this response (1). In the experiments performed here, immune lymphoid cells were incubated with GARIG for only 1 hr, an incubation time which does not by itself lead to blastogenesis (1).…”

“…It may be asked why preincubation of the cells with GARIG did not itself result in blastogenesis of the cells. Incubation of rabbit lymphoid cells with GARIG has previously been shown to result in blastogenesis and mitosis after a minimum of 3 days in culture (1). However, the GARIG had to be in contact with the cells for the entire duration of culture in order to facilitate this response (1).…”

“…A previous investigation from this laboratory was concerned with the demonstration of the heterogeneous nature of the lymphoid cells on the basis of their in vitro responses to a number of mitogenic stinxuli--PHA, anti-immunoglobulin antiserum and allogeneic and xenogeneic cells (1). The responses to these stimuli are considered to have immunologic implications in that it was demonstrated that the responses to PHA and anti-immunoglobulin antiserum (GARIG) can be related to the capacity of the lymphoid cells to participate in cellular or humoral immune reactions, respectively (1).…”

“…The technique used for cell culture has been described previously (1). The ceils were suspended in Med-PS, at a concentration of 2 X 106-8 × 106 ceils per ml, to which was added gamma globulin-free normal rabbit serum (NRS), to a concentration of 15%.…”