Effector and regulator functions of splenic and thymic lymphocytes in the clawed toad Xenopus.
B cells in Xenopus, as characterized by surface immunoglobulin, nylon-wool adherence and ability to produce antibody in vitro, were found in both major lymphoid organs: 10-25% Ig-positive cells for spleen and 0.5-4% for thymus. The splenic and thymic B cells were able to produce specific antibody of both isotypes, IgM and low molecular weight (LMW) Ig (IgG equivalent). While for a T-cell-dependent antigen, DNP-KLH, both required T-cell help, thymic B cells for a specific antigen produced far more LMW Ig than splenic B cells. Thymic T cells had the same ability as splenic T cells to elicit an allogenic GvH, but with much less efficiency, probably as a result of fewer mature cells. In contrast to splenic T cells, thymic T cells provided little or no help for B cells and, in certain instances, demonstrated suppressor activity.
D000818:Animals; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D000921:Antibody-Producing Cells / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D004136:Dinitrobenzenes / Q000276:immunology; D006087:Graft vs Host Reaction; D006462:Hemolytic Plaque Technique; D007126:Immunoglobulin Allotypes / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008211:Lymphocyte Cooperation; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D014982:Xenopus laevis / Q000276:immunology*
D004136:Dinitrobenzenes; D007126:Immunoglobulin Allotypes