Polyclonal stimulation of lymphocytes by macrophages.
To analyze the interaction between macrophages and splenic lymphocytes with reference to time and concentration, the Mishell-Dutton system was divided into two experimental steps. Step 1 consisted of the cocultivation of spleen cells with various doses of macrophages for different periods of time, while in step 2 macrophages were removed, spleen cells transferred to fresh petri dishes and cultivated until plaque assay. Cocultivation of spleen cells with high doses of macrophages for 4--8 h markedly enhanced the DNA synthesis and plaque-forming cell (PFC) response of sheep red blood cell-stimulated and unstimulated cultures. A cocultivation longer than 24 h resulted in an inhibition of both DNA synthesis and PFC response of spleen cells. These studies suggest a nonspecific function of macrophages on proliferation and differentiation processes in antibody formation.
D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D000941:Antigens; D002999:Clone Cells / Q000276:immunology; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D007700:Kinetics; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology*; D008623:Mercaptoethanol / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology*; D013997:Time Factors
D000941:Antigens; D008623:Mercaptoethanol; D004247:DNA