The relative functional maturity of neonatal mouse spleen T- and B-cell populations was assessed by comparing the ability to respond to the thymic-independent antigen, DNP-Ficoll, or thymic-dependent SRBC by producing antibody in vitro. Although mouse spleen cells responded to DNP-Ficoll at an earlier age than they responded to SRBC or TNP-SRBC, the reason for the lag in the T-dependent response was confounded by the finding of high numbers of suppressor T lymphocytes in the neonatal spleen. Thus, small numbers of neonatal spleen T cells or thymocytes significantly decreased the in vitro antibody response of adult spleen cells. Although B lymphocytes appear to be functionally mature soon after birth, their acitivity may be modulated by an excess of suppressor T cells; e.g., the reconstitution of helper cell function in the neonatal spleen required anti-theta treatment before addition of adult helper cells. Suppressive activity attributable to T cells seems to play a dominant role in determining the ability of the neonatal animal to react positively or negatively to antigenic stimulation.
Article|
January 01 1975
Ontogeny of mouse lymphocyte function. II. Development of the ability to produce antibody is modulated by T lymphocytes.
D E Mosier
B M Johnson
Online ISSN: 1540-9538
Print ISSN: 0022-1007
J Exp Med (1975) 141 (1): 216–226.
Citation
D E Mosier, B M Johnson; Ontogeny of mouse lymphocyte function. II. Development of the ability to produce antibody is modulated by T lymphocytes.. J Exp Med 1 January 1975; 141 (1): 216–226. doi: https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.141.1.216
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