Requirement for T cells in the production of migration inhibitory factor.
The question whether B lymphocytes are capable of being activated by antigen in the absence of functional T cells was investigated in a model that excludes participation of T cells by virtue of an immune response gene restriction. Strain 2 guinea pigs are capable of responding to immunization with DNP-PLL, whereas strain 13 animals are not. In the present experiments, animals of both strains were immunized with DNP-PLL complexed to ovalbumin (DNP-PLL-Ova) under conditions in which equal titers of antibodies to DNP were produced by both strains. The failure of T cells of strain 13 animals to respond to DNP-PLL was confirmed by the virus plaque assay. While spleen cells from both strains produced MIF after stimulation with DNP-PLL-Ova, in response to DNP-PLL only strain 2 spleens were able to produce MIF. Cells from neither strain could be activated by DNP-guinea pig albumin to produce MIF. We conclude that B lymphocytes are incapable of being stimulated by antigen in the absence of T cells, and that MIF production is a thymus-dependent response. While the results indicate that MIF production is a valid qualitative assay for T-cell competence, since MIF can be produced by B and T cells, the degree of migration inhibition cannot be regarded as a quantitative measure of T-cell function.
D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004140:Dinitrophenols / Q000276:immunology; D005796:Genes; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D009154:Mutation; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D000941:Antigens; D004140:Dinitrophenols; D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors