Immune interferon secretion as an expression of immunological memory to transplantation antigens: in vivo generation of long-lived, recirculating memory cells.
Leukocytes from C57Bl/6 mice immunized against DBA/2 strain antigens by intraperitoneal injection of mastocytoma P 815 cells produced, when stimulated in the mixed leukocyte reaction assay with DBA/2 spleen cells, an earlier and more intense secretion of immune interferon than leukocytes from untreated mice. This secondary-type interferon response was independent of cell proliferation. The memory phenomenon was induced by long-lived, recirculating lymphocytes found in spleen, lymph nodes and thoracic duct, but not in the thymus. Memory cells could be recruited into inflammatory sites. They were shown to be specific for H-2 alloantigens, although some cross-reactivity with stimulating cells bearing unrelated H-2 antigens was observed. The possible anti-tumor, antiviral and immunoregulatory roles of this memory phenomenon, and its significance in transplantation immunity are discussed.
D000818:Animals; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000276:immunology; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D007372:Interferons / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D007519:Isoantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains / Q000276:immunology
D000954:Antigens, Surface; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens; D007519:Isoantigens; D007372:Interferons