title: Role of T cells in the mitogen-induced proliferation and polyclonal antibody response of murine B cells.
abstract: The effect of thymus-derived lymphocytes (T cells) on the responsiveness of bone marrow-derived lymphocytes (B cells) to bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was determined in in vitro experiments. Radiation resistant splenic T cells obtained from euthymic nu/+ mice increased the number of proliferating cells in the cultures of splenic B cells from athymic nu/nu mice even in the nonstimulated state. The radiation resistant T cells augmented significantly the responsiveness of B cells to LPS, as determined by an increase in proliferating cells and polyclonally induced anti-sheep erythrocyte (SRBC) IgM hemolysin plaque-forming cells (PFC). Addition of the T cells to B cell cultures not only augmented the responsiveness of B cells to suboptimal doses of LPS but also enabled B cells to respond to supraoptimal doses of LPS. As is well documented, the radiation resistant T cells were unable to induce the generation of anti-SRBC PFC in B cell cultures, unless the cultures were simultaneously stimulated with SRBC. Colcemid, a specific inhibitor of cell mitosis, blocked almost completely the exponential generation of anti-SRBC PFC in B cell cultures responding to SRBC with the aid of radiation resistant T cells. In contrast, colcemid did not affect the exponential generation of anti-SRBC PFC of a polyclonal nature in B cell cultures responding to LPS, either in the presence or absence of radiation resistant T cells.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D003703:Demecolcine / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008211:Lymphocyte Cooperation; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D008934:Mitogens; D003703:Demecolcine