title: Analysis of the function of L3T4+ T cells by in vivo treatment with monoclonal antibody to L3T4.
abstract: We have used MAb to L3T4 to examine the function of L3T4+ T cells in normal and autoimmune mice. Treatment of mice with MAb to L3T4 profoundly depleted L3T4+ cells from the blood, spleen, and lymph nodes, but not the thymus. In BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice, selective depletion of L3T4+ cells blocked both primary and secondary humoral immune responses and inhibited, but did not prevent, cellular immune responses. In lupus-prone B/W and BXSB mice, depletion of L3T4+ cells significantly retarded autoimmune disease. Because the L3T4 antigen in mice is homologous to the CD4 antigen in humans, these findings have implications regarding the function of CD4+ T cells and the prospects for using MAb to CD4 as therapeutic agents.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000917:Antibody Formation; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000276:immunology*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D010641:Phenotype; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M