title: T cell independent antigens.
abstract: T cell independent antigens type 2 (TI-2), which are represented predominantly by polysaccharide antigens, stimulate humoral antibody responses in the absence of T-cell help. We and others have recently reported that natural killer cells and/or natural killer cell derived lymphokines may provide a form of 'help' that is necessary for the induction and maintenance of TI-2 responses. Two natural killer cell derived lymphokines, interferon-gamma and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, show synergistic stimulatory activity in inducing Ig secretion in B cells stimulated by a multivalent ligand that mimics TI-2 antigens. The recent finding that natural killer cells have receptors for various classes of polysaccharides supports a role for these cells in regulating responses to TI-2 antigens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814-4799, USA.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Mond
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Vos
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lees
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Snapper
mesh_terms: D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D000955:Antigens, T-Independent / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D017578:Immunoglobulin Class Switching / Q000276:immunology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D000955:Antigens, T-Independent; D016207:Cytokines