title: Limiting dilution analysis for alloreactive, TCGF-secretory T cells. Two related LDA methods that discriminate between unstimulated precursor T cells and in vivo-alloactivated T cells.
abstract: We have developed a rapid limiting dilution analysis technique for quantitating alloantigen-specific TCGF-secretory T lymphocytes (operationally defined as helper T lymphocytes or HTL) in murine lymphoid populations. A simple permutation of this technique allows the distinction between HTL that have encountered antigen in vivo and the large population of naive precursor HTL (pHTL) with the same alloantigen specificity. We present evidence to validate these LDA techniques, and show that lymphoid tissue from mice bearing sponge matrix allografts, but not isografts, contain HTL that have been activated in vivo. In addition, we demonstrate a requirement for restimulation with alloantigen for secretion of lymphokine by the in vivo-activated cells. We suggest that this differential LDA technique could serve as a valuable tool in evaluating in vivo immunity and/or the in vivo efficacy of immunosuppressive, as well as immunopotentiating, therapies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus 43210.
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Bishop
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Orosz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D007158:Immunologic Techniques; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D007519:Isoantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D007519:Isoantigens