title: Splenic dependence of the antibody response to thymus-independent (TI-2) antigens.
abstract: The murine antibody response to T-independent (TI)-2 antigens [2,4-dinitrophenyl-Lys-Ficoll (DNP-FIC) and DNP-hydroxyethyl starch (HES)] was impaired long after splenectomy, while responses to TI-1 [trinitrophenylated lipopolysaccharide (TNP-LPS)] and thymus-dependent [TNP-keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH)] antigens were largely unaffected. The antibody response to these TI-2 antigens was exclusively against the conjugated epitopes [DNP-, fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)- or tetramethylrhodamine isothiocyanate (TRITC)-Ficoll or -HES]. Fluorescent conjugates of Ficoll and HES localize selectively to the splenic marginal zone macrophages. This localization was not affected by 750 cGy of X-irradiation, but the antibody response to the TI-2 antigens was abrogated for 14 days. Administration of spleen cells restored the antibody response to these TI-2 antigens in otherwise intact irradiated mice but not if they had been splenectomized. Our findings indicate that the antibody response to TI-2 antigens depends upon stimulation of B cells in a splenic environment. This probably involves antigen presentation by marginal zone macrophages.
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Amlot
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Grennan
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Humphrey
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D000955:Antigens, T-Independent / Q000276:immunology*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000494:pharmacology; D004136:Dinitrobenzenes / Q000276:immunology; D000939:Epitopes; D005362:Ficoll / Q000276:immunology; D006895:Hydroxyethyl Starch Derivatives / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology*; D014965:X-Rays
chemical_list: D000955:Antigens, T-Independent; D004136:Dinitrobenzenes; D000939:Epitopes; D006895:Hydroxyethyl Starch Derivatives; D005362:Ficoll; D003520:Cyclophosphamide