Immune maturation of T lymphocytes: sequential changes in the functional specificity and apparent affinity of hapten-reactive helper T cells during an immune response. |
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Authors: | U Yamashita T Hamaoka T Takami M Kitagawa |
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Affiliation: | Institute for Cancer Research, Osaka University Medical School, Dojimahamadori, Fukushimaku, Osaka, 553 Japan |
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Abstract: | The maturation of helper T lymphocytes during an immune response was studied with respect to sequential changes in the functional specificity and affinity toward certain antigens. Protein-carrier (BαA)-reactive helper T cells obtained after a relatively long priming period were effectively stimulated by relatively lower doses of antigen than shortly primed helper T lymphocytes. When hapten (PAB)-reactive helper T lymphocytes were utilized as a model of helper T cells, reactivity also increased progressively to smaller concentrations of PAB-conjugates at successive intervals after primary immunization. Concomitantly, the cross-reactivity of PAB-reactive helper T cells to structurally related MAB- or OAB-determinants also decreased. Moreover, the PAB-reactive helper T cells of the relatively longer priming period were very susceptible to tolerance induction upon treatment with PAB-d-GL, whereas the reactivity of those helper T cells of the relatively shorter priming period was not abolished by this treatment. These results clearly indicate that there are qualitative changes in the helper T lymphocyte population during an immune response, and that this represents the sequential development or selection of helper T lymphocytes of higher specificity and apparent affinity to a corresponding antigenic determinant. |
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Keywords: | To whom reprint requests should be sent. |
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