The question whether B lymphocytes are capable of being activated by antigen in the absence of functional T cells was investigated in a model that excludes participation of T cells by virtue of an immune response gene restriction. Strain 2 guinea pigs are capable of responding to immunization with DNP-PLL, whereas strain 13 animals are not. In the present experiments, animals of both strains were immunized with DNP-PLL complexed to ovalbumin (DNP-PLL-Ova) under conditions in which equal titers of antibodies to DNP were produced by both strains. The failure of T cells of strain 13 animals to respond to DNP-PLL was confirmed by the virus plaque assay. While spleen cells from both strains produced MIF after stimulation with DNP-PLL-Ova, in response to DNP-PLL only strain 2 spleens were able to produce MIF. Cells from neither strain could be activated by DNP-guinea pig albumin to produce MIF. We conclude that B lymphocytes are incapable of being stimulated by antigen in the absence of T cells, and that MIF production is a thymus-dependent response. While the results indicate that MIF production is a valid qualitative assay for T-cell competence, since MIF can be produced by B and T cells, the degree of migration inhibition cannot be regarded as a quantitative measure of T-cell function.
Article|
June 01 1975
Requirement for T cells in the production of migration inhibitory factor.
B R Bloom
E Shevach
Online ISSN: 1540-9538
Print ISSN: 0022-1007
J Exp Med (1975) 142 (5): 1306–1311.
Citation
B R Bloom, E Shevach; Requirement for T cells in the production of migration inhibitory factor. . J Exp Med 1 November 1975; 142 (5): 1306–1311. doi: https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.142.5.1306
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