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Characterization of T and B Antigen-Binding Cells for -Galactosidase

III. Independence of Antigen-Binding Cells in Normal Animals from Antigenic Stimulation¹

Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115

Abstract

Antigen-binding cells to -galactosidase were enumerated in thymus and spleen of mice of different ages and found to remain at a constant frequency throughout life. Thymic -galactosidase-binding cells (ZBCs),⁶ representing T-binding cells, showed no appreciable fluctuation, whereas splenic ZBCs, a mixture of T- and B-binding cells, were slightly depressed at birth but found at normal frequencies by 1 week of age. In addition, germfree mice, both within the 1st week after birth and after maturity, had nearly as many binding cells as did conventionally reared age-matched mice. These results considered together suggest that the ability of cells of both T and B origin to recognize antigen, as revealed by their ability to bind -galactosidase, arise independently of specific or nonspecific antigenic stimulation, as part of the normal ontogenic sequence of steps of differentiation. This is consistent with the theory of clonal precommitment of T and B cells.

Footnotes

¹ This work was supported in part by National Institutes of Health Grant AI 05691, and by Training Grant 5T 01 AI 00387.

⁶ Abbreviations used in this paper: GVH, graft-vs-host; MLR, mixed lymphocyte reactivity; Z, -galactosidase; ZBC, -galactosidase-binding cells; ABC, antigen-binding cells; FdG, fluorescein-di--galactopyranoside.

² Based on work submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, Harvard University.

³ Present address: Department of Biology, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California 92037.

⁴ Career Investigator, American Heart Association.

⁵ To whom requests for reprints should be sent.