Human anti-tetanus antibody response in vitro: autologous and allogeneic T cells provide help by different routes.
Human B cells will make anti-tetanus antibody in vitro in the presence of antigen and T cells. These T cells may be autologous, but allogeneic T lymphocytes function equally well provided they are first irradiated. The allogeneic cells provide help by a different route. Co-culture of allogeneic cells produces a degree of polyclonal activation of B cells and a much higher level of IgM anti-tetanus antibody than autologous cultures. Depletion of tetanus toxoid or alloantigen-reactive T cells by 3H-thymidine suicide indicates that in autologous cultures help for anti-tetanus toxoid antibody production is provided by antigen-reactive T cells while in allogeneic cultures antibody production is dependent on the presence of alloreactive T cells. The implications for assessing human T and B cell function are discussed.
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007519:Isoantigens / Q000276:immunology; D008211:Lymphocyte Cooperation; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid / Q000276:immunology*
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D007519:Isoantigens; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid