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Role of T Lymphocytes in the Humoral Immune Response

II. T Cell-Mediated Regulation of Antibody Avidity¹

From the Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Department of Pathology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110

Abstract

The effect of activated T lymphocytes (ATC) on the avidity distribution of PFC in the secondary response was studied in normal mice. The total PFC response was not significantly changed for either direct or indirect PFC by administration of ATC before secondary antigen challenge. However, marked suppression occurred of indirect PFC that secreted high avidity antibody; no suppression was seen of high avidity direct PFC. At the same time, significant stimulation was seen of relative and absolute frequencies of indirect PFC that secreted middle and low avidity antibody. These effects were dependent on Thy 1-bearing, nylon nonadherent cells which demonstrated carrier specificity. In further characterization of these effects, it was found that increasing the number of ATC transferred produced progressive loss of high avidity PFC and compensatory increase in lower avidity PFC. Moreover, in these experiments, suppression of the high avidity response was inducible with the administration of ATC 5 weeks before to 3 days after the secondary immunization. Thus, it is likely that the avidity-modifying effects are dependent on T lymphocytes which influence the late stages of B lymphocyte maturation.

Footnotes

¹ This work was supported by United States Public Health Service Grants AI-11635 and CA-16032 and by the following companies: Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation; Larus and Brother Company, Inc.; Liggett & Myers, Incorporated; Lorillard, a Division of Loews Theatres, Incorporated; Philip Morris, Incorporated; R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company; United States Tobacco Company; and Tobacco Associates, Inc.

² Supported by the Medical Scientist Training Program Grant GM-02016.