Complement-dependent and -independent pathways of T cell-B cell cooperation.
BDF1 mice treated with CoV had markedly reduced levels (less than 20%) of native serum C3 32 hr later, whereas the frequency of splenic CR+ cells was normal. CoV treatment before immunization reduced the IgM PFC response to a T-dependent antigen (TNP-SRBC) by more than 60%. Inclusion of highly specific anti-C3 antibody had no effect on the T-dependent IgM response of CR- B cells. The residual PFC responses in cultures of unfractionated spleen cells treated with anti-C3 could be largely or completely accounted for by CR- B cells in the cultures. The effect of anti-C3 antibody was not due to cytotoxicity. These data collectively indicate that the effect of CoV on T-dependent antibody responses is due to decreased C3 in serum rather than to interaction of C receptors directly with CoV or with C3 cleavage products. They suggest the existence of at least two distinct pathways of T-B cooperation, one in which C3 is an obligatory participant and another in which it may be uninvolved.
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies; D000917:Antibody Formation; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D000941:Antigens; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000032:analysis / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D003165:Complement System Proteins; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006462:Hemolytic Plaque Technique; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D012910:Snake Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D014301:Trinitrobenzenes / Q000276:immunology
D000906:Antibodies; D000941:Antigens; D003176:Complement C3; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D012910:Snake Venoms; D014301:Trinitrobenzenes; D003165:Complement System Proteins