Detection of specific antigen-sensitized T-lymphocytes in human tonsils.
Tonsillar lymphocytes from children immunized against rubella were cultured with various mitogens, including phytohemagglutinin and rubella virus. Sheep red cells were subsequently added to detect rosette-forming T-lymphocytes, and the suspension tested by autoradiography to identify transformed cells. With PHA, 60--80% of the cells were transformed, of which 37% were rosette-forming T-cells. With rubella antigen only 31% of lymphocytes were transformed, but almost all of these formed rosettes. It is concluded that PHA stimulates B- as well as T-cells alone; such stimulation may therefore be a more reliable test of T-cell function and of cell-mediated immunity.
D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D001345:Autoradiography; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002648:Child; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007104:Immune Adherence Reaction; D037102:Lectins; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D012409:Rubella / Q000276:immunology; D012411:Rubella Vaccine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012412:Rubella virus / Q000276:immunology; D012756:Sheep / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism; D014316:Tritium
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D037102:Lectins; D012411:Rubella Vaccine; D014316:Tritium; D013936:Thymidine