title: H-2-restricted helper activity mediated by immunoglobulin-bearing lymphocytes.
abstract: The genetic requirements for helper activity mediated by a unique, Ig-bearing lymphocyte population were studied. This Lyt-1+, I-A+, Thy-1- population, called BH, preferentially helps expression of NPb idiotypic plaque-forming cells when added to T cell-depleted responder cultures. Furthermore, the BH population can directly bind NPb idiotypic determinants. Using H-2 congenic mice, we show that BH helper activity can be expressed only when BH cells share I-A subregion alleles with responder B cell populations. This H-2 restriction is not a result of thymic influences, because the activity of BH cells from athymic mice are also H-2 restricted. Macrophages present in the BH population do not contribute to the H-2 restriction. Results are presented that definitively rule out the possible role for T lymphocytes in BH activity and demonstrate that a single helper population expresses both Lyt-1 and I-A determinants. These results indicate that Ig-bearing cells serve a regulatory as well as an effector role in immune responses and that, like other regulatory lymphoid subsets, their activity is regulated in part by MHC-encoded determinants.
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Sherr
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Dorf
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000921:Antibody-Producing Cells / Q000276:immunology; D000950:Antigens, Ly / Q000032:analysis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification* / Q000276:immunology; D006183:H-2 Antigens / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D006462:Hemolytic Plaque Technique; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000032:analysis; D008264:Macrophages / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008819:Mice, Nude; D010641:Phenotype; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000950:Antigens, Ly; D006183:H-2 Antigens; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell