In vitro Transfer of Immunity by Ribosomes

Abstract

Summary These studies were concerned with the transfer of immunologic activity to lymphoid cells of non-sensitized mice by incubation with ribosomal preparations obtained from splenic tissue of sensitized animals. BALB/c mice were sensitized against homologous cells of C3H mouse origin. Splenic lymphoid cells of these mice were able to lyse C3H mouse cells in tissue culture. Ribosomes obtained from aliquots of the same spleens were incubated in vitro with lymphoid cells of nonsensitized BALB/c mice. After incubation with ribosomes, the lymphoid cells acquired the capacity to lyse C3H target cells in vitro. The ability of the ribosomal preparation to transfer cytolytic activity was removed by prior treatment with ribonuclease. The ribosomal preparation had no direct lytic effect on the homologous target cells, but required incubation with viable lymphoid cells to demonstrate this effect. The antigenic dose level and the time between antigenic stimulus and harvesting of splenic tissue were examined with regard to the ability of the ribosomes to transfer cytolytic activity. Comparison of the cytolytic activity of lymphoid cells of sensitized animals with that of the in vitro “transformed” lymphoid cells revealed differences in both the rate and degree of the reaction.