Evidence for a subpopulation of antigen-presenting cells specific for the induction of the delayed-type hypersensitivity response.
Young adult SJL mice (8 weeks of age or younger) do not mount a delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response due to the failure of a macrophage antigen-presenting cell (APC) to induce TDTH effector cells. SJL mice that are 10 weeks of age or older produce a normal DTH response. This genetic defect provides a model for the investigation of functional subpopulations of APC which interact with specific subpopulations of T cells. In this study, we used this model to examine whether macrophage APC impairment involves APC-dependent immune responses other than DTH. No age-dependent differences were found in the ability of spleen cells from SJL mice to proliferate and synthesize interleukin-2 in response to concanavalin A; nor was the proliferative response to a variety of antigenic stimuli affected. In addition, no differences were observed in the contact sensitivity response or in the in vitro generation of allogeneic cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). In contrast, the in vivo generation of allogeneic CTL was significantly depressed in 6-week-old SJL and could not be restored to normal by the adoptive transfer of macrophages from DTH responsive 12-week-old SJL mice. Finally, examination of the humoral response of 6-week-old SJL indicated no impairment in IgM or IgG serum antibody levels or in the induction of splenic B cells. Thus, the macrophage APC regulating the induction of TDTH effector cells does not appear to participate in the induction of T helper cells for other cellular and humoral responses. These data support the hypothesis that distinct subpopulations of APC may regulate the induction of specific immune effector mechanisms.
Department of Microbiology, University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles 90033.
G K
GK
Matsushima
W
W
Gilmore
N
N
Casteel
J A
JA
Frelinger
S A
SA
Stohlman
D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D003877:Dermatitis, Contact / Q000209:etiology; D006433:Hemocyanins / Q000276:immunology; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000209:etiology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology
D006433:Hemocyanins; C032808:keyhole-limpet hemocyanin