The Journal of Immunology, Vol 132, Issue 5 2253-2258, Copyright © 1984 by American Association of Immunologists

ARTICLES

Role of antigen-specific B cells in the induction of SRBC-specific T cell proliferation

BA Malynn and HH Wortis

In this study, we ask whether antigen presentation can be effected by antigen-activated B cells. Antigen-dependent in vitro proliferation of T cells from mice primed with SRBC or HoRBC occurs in the presence of B cells primed to the relevant antigen. B cells prepared from lymph nodes of mice primed with irrelevant antigens are not effective antigen- presenting cells for RBC-specific T cell proliferation over a wide range of SRBC doses. This is true even when both RBC and the antigen to which the B cells are primed are included in the culture. In contrast, B cells specific for a hapten determinant coupled to SRBC are able to support proliferation of T cells specific for SRBC determinants. We conclude from these data that antigen-specific B cells play a role in the induction of T cell proliferative responses to SRBC and HoRBC antigens. Two models are proposed: either B cells, upon antigen interaction with surface antibody, are able to act as accessory cells to induce Ia-dependent proliferation of immune T cells; or B cells augment the T cell proliferative response by secretion of antibody, leading to opsonization of the antigen for macrophage uptake and presentation.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				D. Brinc, H. Le-Tien, A. R. Crow, V. Siragam, J. Freedman, and A. H. Lazarus Transfusion of IgG-Opsonized Foreign Red Blood Cells Mediates Reduction of Antigen-Specific B Cell Priming in a Murine Model J. Immunol., July 15, 2008; 181(2): 948 - 953. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Berzofsky Intrinsic and extrinsic factors in protein antigenic structure Science, September 6, 1985; 229(4717): 932 - 940. [Abstract] [PDF]