Increased reactivity of responding cells in the mixed lymphocyte reaction by a thymic humoral factor.
A thymic humoral factor (THF) induces competence in a certain sector of the lymphoid cell population. The target cell for THF activity was studied using the one-way mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC). Cells from various lymphoid tissues (responding cells) were preincubated in THF for 1 hour and then mixed with mitomycin-C-treated cells (stimulating cells). The results obtained indicate that THF increases MLC competence of lymphocytes from spleen and thymus origin of intact mice and that of spleen of thymus-deprived mice. In contrast, no enhancing effect in the MLC response by THF could be observed when bone marrow-derived spleen cells, cortisone-resistant thymocytes or lymph node cells were used as responding cells. These results confirm our hypothesis that THF leads to differentiation of young thymus-derived (T) cells, promoting them to maturation and thus to the acquisition of full immune competence.
D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D003348:Cortisone / Q000494:pharmacology; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D013934:Thymectomy; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000276:immunology*; D013951:Thymus Hormones / Q000502:physiology*
D013951:Thymus Hormones; D003348:Cortisone