title: The amplifier role of T cells in the human in vitro B cell response to type 4 pneumococcal polysaccharide.
abstract: The human B cell response to T cell independent type 2 antigens is regulated by thymus-derived lymphocytes. We analyzed the role of T cells in the in vitro antibody response to type 4 pneumococcal polysaccharide (PS4). We here show that the amplifying effect of T cells, which has previously been shown to be radioresistant and confined to T cell preparations enriched for CD4+ cells, is MHC non-restricted as demonstrated in cultures carried out in the presence of allogeneic T cells. Also, T cell clones derived from non-related donors are able to enhance the B cell response to PS4. All TCR alpha beta +, CD 4+ T cell clones, but none of the TCR alpha beta +, CD 8+ T cell clones tested, enhanced the B cell response to PS4. Furthermore, 3 out of 6 TCR gamma delta+ T cell clones were capable of enhancing the anti-PS4 B cell response. Experiments using recombinant lymphokines and glutaraldehyde-fixed T cells indicated that both lymphokines and T-B cell interactions are required for an optimal antibody response to PS4.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, University Hospital for Children and Youth, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Griffioen
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Toebes
authors.forename: G T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Rijkers
authors.forename: F H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Claas
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Datema
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Zegers
mesh_terms: D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D005976:Glutaral; D006801:Humans; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000276:immunology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D011134:Polysaccharides; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D005976:Glutaral