T cells with receptors for IgD.
The role of IgD in the immune response has been elusive, although its predominance on the cell surface suggests a receptor function. We have shown previously that euthymic but not athymic BALB/c mice, injected with IgD before antigen, exhibit enhanced antibody responses which can be transferred by T cells. Isotype-specific T cells have been reported to have both upward and downward immunoregulatory effects. Here we demonstrate the existence of T cells with receptors for IgD, and show that exposure to IgD in vivo or in vitro significantly increases the number of T delta cells in the spleen and lymph nodes but not in the thymus. The kinetics of T delta-cell appearance in vivo parallels that of the immunoenhancing effect which occurs after injection of IgD. These T delta cells are of the Lyt 1+2- T-cell phenotype.
D000818:Animals; D007072:Immunoglobulin D / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007700:Kinetics; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000032:analysis*; D012397:Rosette Formation; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*
D007072:Immunoglobulin D; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic