title: T and B lymphocytes. Exclusive role as responders and stimulators in human one-way mixed lymphocyte reaction.
abstract: Four different combinations of one-way mixed lymphocyte reactions between human peripheral blood T and B lymphocytes (at a ratio of 1:1), purified by the E-rosetting technique, were carried our. A significant mixed lymphocyte reaction was observed only in a combination in which T lymphocytes, as responding cells, and B lymphocytes, as stimulating cells, were utilized. No significant mixed lymphocyte reaction was noted in the other three combinations of cells, using T or B lymphocytes as responders and T lymphocytes as stimulators, and also B lymphocytes as both responders and stimulators. Mixed lymphocyte reactions between T lymphocytes as responders (at constant concentration) and T and B lymphocytes as stimulators (varying proportions) showed that the response decreased proportionately with decreasing numbers of B cells and increasing numbers of T cells used as stimulators. Addition of increasing numbers of stimulating T cells to a constant number of stimulating B cells did not suppress or enhance the T-cell response to B cells. These observations indicate that the human peripheral blood T and B lymphocytes play an exclusive role as responding cells and stimulating cells, respectively.
mesh_terms: D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000528:radiation effects; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*