Cellular Cooperation in Antibody Production

Abstract

Cellular interactions are a prominent aspect of immune responses both in vivo and in vitro. In particular, antibody production in response to immunization with most proteins depends upon the “helper” function of T cells. Despite the fact that T cell help for antibody production has been recognized for over two decades, several enigmas exist regarding the means through which it is mediated. In this Introduction to the Symposium on Cell Cooperation, I review some of the major issues that underlay the interaction between immunocompetent cells, with particular reference to the interaction between T cells and B cells that is involved in antibody production. I also point out that this one central aspect of immunity represents in microcosm the two dominant themes of immunological science, recognition and regulation. I have suggested that the great successes of the first century of immunology have been in understanding the cellular, molecular and genetic basis of antigen recognition. The field of immune regulation, although already well launched, is the one that we may expect to dominate the second century of our science (Paul 1987).