Electron Microscopic Observations on Antibody-Producing Lymph Node Cells

Abstract

The direct demonstration by McMaster and Hudack (1) of the production of antibody in lymph nodes led to a long search for the cell in the lymph node which synthesized antibody. Early evidence by Harris, Grimm, Mertens, and Ehrich (2), Dougherty, Chase, and White (3), and Harris and Harris (4) that the lymphocyte was the cell of synthesis was followed by the studies of BjSrnehoe and Gormsen (5), and Fagraeus (6) indicating the plasma cell as the cell which produced antibody. The following years produced studies of the cellular source of antibody by at least six experimental approaches, each of which led some authors to conclude that the plasmacytic series of cells was involved, and others, the lymphocytic series (7).The culmination, in 1955, of this decade and a half of intensive research was the actual finding of antibody within plasma cells, by Coons and his colleagues (8-10), using the indirect fluorescent antibody technique. These cells were found in antibody-producing lymph nodes; antibody-containing plasma cells were soon also found in other situations, i.e., in sites of deposition of transferred lymph node cells, by Dixon and his colleagues (11-13), and in chambers containing antigen-stimulated lymph node cells, by several groups of workers (14-16). Also supporting this association was the observation of Nossal (17), in single cell preparations from active lymph nodes, that virtually all the cells which were identified as antibody-producing were plasma cells.More recently, however, a number of reported observations have again given direct evidence of a role of the lymphocyte in antibody formation. In single cell droplet studies which involved a more sensitive antibody assay than that of Nossal (17), Attardi, Cohn, Horibata, and Lennox (18) found lymphocytes among the antibody-forming cells, the frequency of antibody-producing cells among the lymphocytes found being roughly one-third that found among plasma cells. Balfour, Cooper, and Alpen (19) found, after a secondary injection of diphtheria toxoid, that of the cells in the regional lymph node

Studies on Antibody-Producing Cells

“…In confirmation of previous studies from this and other laboratories, it was shown that lymphocytes and plasmacytes in various stages of differentiation contributed to the heterogeneity of the antibody-producing cells (2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8). Morphological forms suggesting transition between cells of the lymphocytic and of the plasmacytic series were also described (1).…”

Cell Surface Immunoglobulin

“…These cells, therefore, do not resemble typical secretory ceils. Nevertheless, it is well recognized that small lymphocytes can secrete antibodies (25). The present studies indicate that a population from normal spleen consisting of virtually all small lymphocytes incorporates tyrosine-3H into 7S IgG and 8S IgM molecules which are actively secreted.…”

Lymphoid Cellular Responses in the Blood After Immunization in Man

“…Braunsteiner and Pakesch (14) were able to show increases in plasma cells in the blood of rabbits after repeated injections of typhoid vaccine. Hummeler et al (16) and Harris et al (25) described the electron microscopic appearance of the lymphoid cells which were synthesizing antibody. Their studies included lymph node material, lymph, and peripheral blood after immunization of rabbits with sheep red cells.…”