Receptor-directed focusing of lymphokine release by helper T cells.
The interaction between helper T cells and B cells, leading to the production of antibody to thymus-dependent antigens, was the first cell interaction clearly defined in the immune system; it remains both paradigmatic and controversial. Two requirements of this interaction, that the helper cell (TH) and the B cell must recognize antigenic determinants that are physically linked, and that the TH and the B cell must share genes encoding major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules, led to the concept that TH-B interaction required an intimate physical association of the two cell types. But in vitro studies have shown that TH can be replaced by soluble, antigen-nonspecific factors, capable of activating any B cell to secrete antibody. We have previously proposed that the requirements for TH-B contact might result from TH cells releasing their lymphokines in a polar fashion directed at that portion of the cell membrane where T-cell receptor cross-linking is actually occurring. Using an artificial monolayer of a cloned helper T-cell line, we show that lymphokines are released preferentially over the area of receptor cross-linking under conditions of limited TH-cell activation. Thus, it appears that one important aspect of the specificity of TH-B cell interactions is the receptor-directed polar release of helper lymphokines.
Poo
W J
WJ
Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06510.
Conrad
L
L
Janeway
C A
CA
D000818:Animals; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000502:physiology; D002451:Cell Compartmentation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005089:Exocytosis; D008211:Lymphocyte Cooperation; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008806:Mice, Inbred AKR; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000502:physiology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure
D008222:Lymphokines; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell