title: Lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity against tumor cells. III Differentiation of concanavalin A-activated cytotoxic effector cells.
abstract: The maturation of selected T cell responses in the lymphoid organs of irradiated CBA mice was followed after adoptive transfer of syngeneic fetal liver cells. Mitogenic responsiveness to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and concanavalin A (Con A) was found to reach control values 3 weeks after reconstitution in the thymus, spleen, and lymph node, of fetal liver repopulated animals. Spleen and lymph node cell reactivity in mixed lymphocyte culture reactions required 6 weeks to reach significant values. However, the ability of spleen cell suspensions to be activated by Con A into cytotoxic effector lymphocytes appeared after only 2 to 3 weeks. It is concluded that two functionally distinct T cell subpopulations exist in the spleen, one which can be activated into cytotoxic effector lymphocytes by Con A, and one which responds to alloantigens by DNA synthesis.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D008099:Liver / Q000196:embryology / Q000276:immunology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D008934:Mitogens; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D008934:Mitogens; D003208:Concanavalin A