Human epidermal cells are more potent than peripheral blood mononuclear cells for the detection of weak allogeneic or virus-specific primary responses in vitro.
Human epidermal cells (EC) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) have been used as antigen-presenting cells in allogeneic reactions or in self-restricted antiviral responses. Comparison of results from both cell types indicates that: (1) EC were better stimulators of primary proliferative responses in all the antigenic systems tested. (2) In secondary reactions, EC and PBMC functioned similarly for allogeneic responses, while a weak but significant difference could be observed in both (HSV1 or influenza A) virus-specific reactions. (3) By comparing pairs of HLA-identical mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR)-negative siblings, positive responses were observed in several different families when lymphocytes of potential bone marrow donors were stimulated by EC of the recipient. This suggests that EC might be useful in detecting relatively weak proliferative responses in a number of antigenic systems, but especially in primary reactions against viral or putative minor histocompatibility antigens. (4) Despite this stronger antigen-presenting capacity in proliferative responses, EC induced lower levels of cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) reactions than PBMC, not only in allogeneic responses but also in virus-specific self-restricted reactions.
Bagot
M
M
Heslan
M
M
Roujeau
J C
JC
Lebon
P
P
Lévy
J P
JP
D000328:Adult; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D004817:Epidermis / Q000276:immunology*; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000276:immunology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D006680:HLA Antigens