In this study we show that T cells from mice infected with Listeria monocytogenes can interact in vitro with normal macrophages to pqoduce a number of soluble mediators, including loymphos imulayinolecules. One of these molecules was a 15,000 dalton protein mitogenic for thymocytes. Generation of mitogenic activity was essentially completed by the first 24 hr of culture and did not require the addition of Listeria antigens. Production of mitogenic protein required contact between the lymphocytes and macrophages, because it did not occur when the two cells were separated by a cell-impermeable membrane. Optimal production of mitogenic protein occurred only when-the lymphocytes and macrophages shared homologous I-A regions of the major histocompatibility complex. Once generated, the; mitogenic protein did not display histocompatibijity. restriction and could stimulate allogeneic as well as syngenelc thymocytes. Strains of mice with the C57 background responded oorly to mitogenic protein even though those strains were capable of producing it. We conclude that an early stage in T ce immunity to Listenia Iivolves an intimate association with macropliages regulated by the H-2 complex. It is becoming a*rent that most, if not all, of the responses of thymus-derive lymphocytes (T cells) require interaction with antigens that are, or have become associated with, cell surface components, more specifically, with products of the major histocompatibility complex (MHG) (1). Murine cytotoxic T cells readily recognize viral antigens (2-4), tumor-associated antigens (5-7), or chemically modified cell surface proteins (8), all of which appear to be associated with H-2K or H-2D products. There is also good evidence that recognition of soluble protein antigens by T cells, reflected by T cell proliferation, requires the involvement of nrtcrophages as antigen-presenting cells. In this case, the macrophages must bear critical I-region gene products for the T cell to respond (9, 10). Similar restrictions in T cell function have been shown in T-B cell collaboration (11) and in delayed sensitivity reactions (12). The implication from these observations is that-the surface molecules coded by the MHC gene complex represent key regulatory elements involved in the interaction between the T cell and the cell-bound antigen. The manner by which the MHC gene products regulate the interaction is not clear.The purpose of this paper is to report studies on T cellmacrophage interaction controlled by the MHC gene complex in which the immunizing antigen is the facultative intracellular bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. The specific immunity to Listeria organisms is conveyed by T cells that activate the mononuclear phagocyte system for increased bactericidal activity. It had been shown previously that addition of T cells from mice infected with Listeria monocytogenes to cultures of normal macrophages resulted in the increased secretion of a The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges from funds m...