Thymus-dependent increases in splenic T-cell population by indomethacin.
After administration of indomethacin, an inhibitor of prostaglandin synthesis, the number of splenic T cells increased in normal mice but not in adult-thymectomized or athymic nude mice. The enlarged T-cell population consisted mainly of Lyt-1+2+ cells. This thymus-dependent increase in T-cell population augmented in vivo antibody response to sheep erythrocytes, a T-dependent antigen. The increased T-cell population also included suppressor cells that were eliminated by treatment with anti-Lyt-2 antibody plus complement. These results suggest that increased T cells in the spleen were recruited from the thymus by an indomethacin-mediated mechanism and participated in immune responses as regulator cells.
D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000637:transplantation; D002452:Cell Count; D006462:Hemolytic Plaque Technique; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007519:Isoantigens / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008819:Mice, Nude; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000637:transplantation; D013934:Thymectomy; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*
D007519:Isoantigens; D007213:Indomethacin