Formation of heterophile antibodies by human tonsilar lymphocytes: I. In vitro stimulation with heterologous antigens

Abstract

Short term cultures of human tonsilar lymphocytes (HTL) in a medium with human AB serum were studied for production of plaque forming cells (PFC) against bovine (BRBC) and sheep red blood cells (SRBC) following in vitro stimulation by various antigens. Stimulation by BRBC or SRBC resulted in production of significant number of PFC against BRBC and SRBC, 100 to 500/10 6 HTL, 4 to 8 days after initiation of the cultures. Seven of 10 HTL specimens stimulated by BRBC produced PFC against both BRBC and SRBC and three gave negative results. Of 12 SRBC-stimulated HTL samples, five produced PFC against both SRBC and BRBC, four against SRBC only and the remaining three gave negative results. Evidence was presented that E rosetting cells (T) as well as plastic-adhering cells were required for the in vitro PFC responses. Stimulation of HTL by murine thymocytes or by murine lymphoma EL-4 cells resulted also in formation of PFC against both BRBC and SRBC. Antibodies secreted by the PFC were studied by inhibition tests with solubilized heterophile antigens. These studies demonstrated that Hanganutziu-Deicher antibodies were secreted by PFC produced by HTL stimulated by BRBC as well as by SRBC and that Forssman antibodies were secreted by PFC formed by SRBC-stimulated HTL. Demonstration of P-B antibodies was not unequivocal. Stimulation by Hanganutziu-Deicher antigen induced in seven of 19 HTL specimens formation of PFC against BRBC and SRBC and stimulation by Paul-Bunnell antigen resulted in formation of PFC against BRBC or against BRBC and SRBC in four of 25 specimens.