STIMULATION OF ANTIBODY RESPONSES IN VITRO BY ANTIGEN-BEARING SYNGENEIC AND ALLOGENEIC MACROPHAGES

Abstract

The ability of antigen-bearing syngeneic and allogeneic peptone-induced peritoneal exudate macrophages to support development of primary and secondary antibody responses to a T cell-dependent antigen by murine lymphoid cells in vitro has been investigated. Syngeneic and allogeneic macrophages support development of comparable primary antibody responses. Immunized spleen cells, however, develop secondary antibody responses preferentially when stimulated in vitro with antigen on macrophages syngeneic to the macrophages used to immunize the spleen cells in vivo. The genetic restrictions governing effective macrophage-lymphoid cell interactions in secondary antibody responses appear to be operative at the level of the immunized T cell. The implications that sensitized T cells selectively recognize antigen presented in the context of the macrophage membrane-antigen complex which sensitized the T cells initially are considered.