Migratory patterns of B lymphocytes. I. Fate of cells from central and peripheral lymphoid organs in the rabbit and its selective alteration by anti-immunoglobulin.

Homing properties of ³H-adenosine-labeled bone marrow (BM), appendix (App), and mesenteric (Mes) and popliteal (Popl) lymph node (LN) cells were studied in the rabbit. While BM cells 24–48 hr after transfer produced equivalent radioactivity (cpm/mg) in App, Mes, and Popl LN of recipients, App and Popl LN cells did not, showing a highly significant preference for their organ of origin. “Homing to antigen” was shown if Popl LN cells were taken from rabbits immunized to the same antigen as was injected in one footpad of recipients 2 weeks earlier.Pretreatment of App cells with sheep anti-rabbit Ig abolished their preferential localization in App as judged in recipients killed 5 hr after transfer, but this was a transient effect and no longer demonstrable by 24 hr.Histological localization of labeled cells showed the corona of follicles in the center of dome-shaped areas of the App to represent “B-influx areas” after transfer of all cell types and this localization was blocked temporarily (5 hr) by prior incubation of App cells with anti-Ig. Thymus-dependent interfollicular areas showed labeled cells after LN cell transfer, and less after App cells, but none after BM. Emphasized in the discussion are (i) the possible effect of antigen on homing of B cells and (ii) the implications of the findings with respect to the appendix as a peripheral lymphoid organ.