title: Participation of macrophages in enhanced in vitro immune interferon (IFN gamma) production with mouse spleen cells.
abstract: IFN gamma production in cultures of spleen cells obtained from mice sensitized with TH69, a live Streptococcus faecalis preparation, was examined to determine how macrophages participate. It was demonstrated that sensitized spleen macrophages participated in enhanced IFN gamma production by T cells at an early stage (0-6 hr) of incubation, and that this production is mainly dependent on Ia-bearing macrophages In the reconstitution experiments where different combinations of spleen macrophages and T cells obtained from mice sensitized with TH69, OK-432, and BCG were used, T cells required that the identity between the sensitizing organisms in vivo and the stimulating organisms in vitro be the same for enhanced IFN gamma production while macrophages did not. Macrophage-mediated production of IFN gamma appears to be genetically restricted because IFN gamma was only produced in cultures where the H-2 region of macrophages and T cells matched. Further examination revealed that for macrophages to participate in enhanced IFN gamma production, first contact between cycloheximide-treated macrophages and T cells was required. Second, enhanced IFN gamma production occurred when culture supernatants of macrophages obtained from sensitized spleen cells were added to T cells. However, the addition of culture supernatant obtained from sensitized peritoneal macrophages resulted in inhibition of IFN gamma production. These results clearly showed the crucial role of macrophages in enhanced IFN gamma production by spleen T cells in vitro.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002450:Cell Communication; D006183:H-2 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D006183:H-2 Antigens; D007371:Interferon-gamma