Antibody responses to T-dependent antigens: contributions of dendritic cells and helper T lymphocytes.
Dendritic cells (DC) are important accessory cells for T-dependent antibody formation. Other leukocytes -- such as macrophages and B cells -- do not independently initiate antibody responses. DC induce the two principal functions of helper T cells, i.e., direct activation of small, antigen-specific B cells, and release of B cell stimulating factors. These two helper functions can operate in tandem during the 1 degree response to hapten-carrier conjugates. Once the helper cell is sensitized in concert with DC, it interacts directly with B cells apparently in the absence of DC. These functions of helper cells all occur in discrete aggregates which contain DC and the appropriate responding lymphocytes. The DC/lymphocyte aggregates likely represent the appropriate structural unit for the study of cell-cell interactions during antibody responses.
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D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D008211:Lymphocyte Cooperation; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology
D000941:Antigens; D000954:Antigens, Surface