B cell presentation of a tolerogenic signal to Th clones. |
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Authors: | K M Gilbert W O Weigle |
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Affiliation: | Department of Immunology, Research Institute of Scripps Clinic, La Jolla, California 92037. |
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Abstract: | Lightly irradiated (950 R) splenic B cells were inefficient, in comparison to unseparated spleen cells, in stimulating antigen-specific proliferation of Th1 clones specific for human gamma globulin (HGG). This inefficiency was due to antigen-specific inactivation: Th1 clones preincubated with HGG and lightly irradiated B cells or mitomycin C-treated B cells were unable to proliferate to HGG in secondary cultures. In contrast to Th1 clones, Th2 clones proliferated well in response to B cell APC, and showed no decrease in their subsequent antigen-induced proliferative capacity after exposure to lightly irradiated B cells and HGG. However, preincubation of Th2 with lightly irradiated B cells and HGG did inactivate the capacity of Th2 to provide help for antibody production in secondary cultures. These results suggest that under certain conditions B cells may present antigen to Th1 and Th2 cells in a tolerogenic rather than an immunogenic manner. |
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