title: Age-associated changes in T-B cell cooperation demonstrated by the allogeneic effect.
abstract: The allogeneic effect results in an increase in the number of antibody-producing cells (PFC) when the allogeneically stimulated lymphoid cells and the antibody-producing cells are from young individuals. This increase depends on the interaction of allogeneically stimulated T-cells and precursor plasma cells (B-cells). Age-associated deficiencies in these two cell populations were studied in these experiments by use of allogeneically stimulated T-cells from old donors or responding B-cells from old recipients. These experiments showed that lymphocytes from 20-month-old mice were capable of inducing an increase in PFC in young recipients. However, the allogeneic effect was ineffectual in 12-month-old mice. These data suggest that the T-helper function is equally capable in mice 4 to 20 months old, but that the B-cell is not as effectively recruited. The possible causes for limited B-cell recruitment are discussed.
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000921:Antibody-Producing Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D000941:Antigens / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D003114:Colony-Forming Units Assay; D005246:Feedback; D005260:Female; D006462:Hemolytic Plaque Technique; D008211:Lymphocyte Cooperation; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens