Thymus-derived lymphocytes control the expression of immunogenic properties of peritoneal macrophages.
Macrophages, given keyhole limpet hemocyanin in vitro, from normal mice initiate in culture antigen-specific T cell-mediated immune reactions. On the other hand, macrophages from nude, from adult-thymectomized, or from neonatal-thymectomized mice are impaired with respect to their capacity to signal such an antigen-specific T cell reaction. Thymocytes from hydrocortisone-treated donors, added in culture to such impaired macrophages, rendered them immunologically potent. The capacity of macrophages from adult thymectomized mice to promote the activation of antigen-specific "helper" T cells which, cooperating with B lymphocytes, would lead to antibody production, was also impaired. Thus, it appears that short-lived T lymphocytes control the maturation of macrophages up to a stage at which they can present antigen-specific T cells with antigen in an immunogenic form. We found that such T lymphocytes also control the phagocytic properties of macrophages, yet the impairment of their immunogenic properties does not seem to be derived from decreased phagocytosis.
D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D000939:Epitopes; D005260:Female; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000494:pharmacology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology; D008211:Lymphocyte Cooperation; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D010587:Phagocytosis; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000276:immunology
D000939:Epitopes; D006854:Hydrocortisone