title: Recognition of immunoglobulin idiotypes by thymus-derived lymphocytes.
abstract: The ability of thymus-derived lymphocytes (T cells) from BALB/c mice to recognize the individually specific antigenic determinants (idiotypes) of BALB/c myeloma proteins was tested. Spleen cells from donor mice immunized with a given myeloma protein greatly augmented the response of hapten-specific bone marrow-derived, thymus-independent lymphocytes (cells) to a hapten conjugate of the immunizing myeloma protein. This helper effect was specific for the myeloma protein idiotype; responses to hapten conjugates of similar myeloma proteins, bearing different idiotypic determinants, were not augmented by these spleen cells. That the helper cell is a T cell was shown by its marked sensitivity to cytolysis with an isoantiserum specific for T cells (anti-Thy-1-2) and complement. The discrimination between idiotypes by such T cells is roughly comparable to that of the antibody produced by the donors of the helper cells.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D003165:Complement System Proteins; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D000939:Epitopes; D006241:Haptens; D006433:Hemocyanins; D007114:Immunization; D051379:Mice / Q000276:immunology; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009194:Myeloma Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D009578:Nitrobenzenes; D010047:Ovalbumin; D011817:Rabbits / Q000276:immunology; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000939:Epitopes; D006241:Haptens; D009194:Myeloma Proteins; D009578:Nitrobenzenes; D010047:Ovalbumin; D003165:Complement System Proteins; D006433:Hemocyanins