Interaction of helper T cells and Lyb5+ B cells responding to phosphorylcholine is MHC-restricted

Dendritic and B-cell function during antibody responses in normal and immunodeficient (xid) mouse spleen cultures

Dendritic cells (DC) act as accessory cells for T-dependent antibody responses in two ways. One is to induce a class of stimulating factors (BSF) which allow B lymphocytes to respond to heterologous red cells as antigen. xid DC induce the production of these BSF, but xid B cells totally lack responsiveness. A second mechanism of DC function applies to red cell and haptenated-protein antigens. Here DC, helper T lymphocytes, and antigen-specific B cells interact in discrete clusters. Then the B cells become responsive to BSF. xid DC are fully active in this pathway, and xid B cells develop significant (10-20% of control) responses. This partial reduction in xid B-cell function could be due to the poor viability of xid lymphocytes in vitro. There is a comparable reduction in xid polyclonal responses to alloreactive helper T blasts. The other severe deficit in xid involves antibody formation to haptens on polysaccharide carriers. This response in normal mice is not influenced by DC or by BSF. The only similarity between DNP-Ficoll and RBC plus BSF responses is that both utilize B lymphocytes that do not associate with DC-T clusters, even though helper cells for DNP-Ficoll and for RBC are present in the culture. We conclude that DC function is not altered in xid. The main deficit seems to be in a B-cell activation pathway that is shared by polysaccharide carriers and some but not all BSF, and/or in a B-cell subpopulation that does not interact with carrier-specific helper cells. We speculate that this B-cell alteration primarily involves the Ig delta-poor marginal zone subpopulation of splenic B lymphocytes.

Functional requirements of (Phe, G)-A--L-specific T-cell clones of (H-2b X H-2k)F1 origin

T-cell clones specific for the synthetic polypeptide antigen poly(LPhe, LGlu)-poly(DLAla)--poly(LLys) of (C57BL/6 X C3H/HeJ)F1 origin were tested for their biological activities. One group of clones was restricted in its proliferative response to the H-2b haplotype, the second to the H-2k haplotype, and the third to the F1 unique Ia determinants. All the clones which proliferated in response to antigen secreted interleukin-2 (IL-2) following stimulation. The H-2 restriction of the IL-2 secretion was the same as that of the proliferation. Two of the clones tested, C.6 and C.10, could provide help to B cells in antibody production. However, the genetic restriction profile of the helper activity was less stringent than that for the proliferative response. Thus, C.6, which proliferated in the presence of F1 antigen-presenting cells only, could help B cells and accessory cells of C3H/HeJ. C.10, which was restricted in its proliferative response to the H-2b haplotype, could collaborate with B cells and accessory cells of the H-2k haplotype as well. The antibody response of both clones was restricted to the parental or F1 strains.

Regulation of T15 idiotype dominance. III. Phosphocholine-specific B-cell activation in vivo requires major histocompatibility complex-restricted T-cell help

We have examined the requirement for major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-restricted T-cell help in the secondary in vivo antibody response to phosphocholine (PC). The memory response to PC has been demonstrated previously to be comprised of T15-dominant IgM and IgG3 plaque-forming cells (PFC) derived primarily from the Lyb-5+ B-cell subset, and IgG1 and IgG2 PFC, few of which bear the T15 idiotype and are predominantly derived from the Lyb-5- B-cell subset. Using carrier-primed (A X B)F1 T cells which have matured in a parentA chimeric environment so that "self" recognition is of the MHC determinants of parentA but not parentB, we have found that parentA PC-primed B cells, but not parentB PC-primed B cells, are activated. Even in the presence of an ongoing parentA anti-PC response, parentB PC-primed B cells were not activated, indicating that the restriction was between the helper T cell and the B cell, not between T-helper and accessory cells. MHC-restricted T-cell help was required by B cells producing T15+ and T15- IgM, IgG3, IgG1, and IgG2 responses.

Distinct functional phenotypes of cloned Ia-restricted helper T cells

Analysis of activation of phosphorylcholine (PC)-specific B cells by a large number of different cloned, self Ia-specific helper T cell (Th) clones has permitted the classification of such T cells into four distinct functional types. Types 1 and 2 induce B cells to secrete anti-PC antibody in an antigen-specific, Ia-restricted fashion. Type 3 cells induce antigen-specific, Ia-restricted B cell proliferation, but do not lead to specific antibody formation, and have been shown previously to have suppressor functions. Type 4 cells are autoreactive, and induce antigen-independent B cell activation and antibody secretion. The distinction between type 1 and type 2 Th clones was analyzed in detail. In bulk cultures, type 1 cloned lines generate an idiotypically heterogeneous anti-PC antibody response, whereas type 2 cloned lines induce a larger response that is dominated by the T15 idiotype. In limiting-dilution analyses, type 2 cells induce fourfold more T15+, PC-specific precursor B cells than do type 1 cells, and in addition, induce larger burst sizes for T15+, PC-specific B cells. Type 4 clones can also be subdivided into cells that are type 1-like, and cells that are type 2-like. These differences in functional phenotype are seen over a broad range of antigen and cell doses. Detailed analysis of the behavior of these distinct functional types of Th should allow a better understanding of the functional properties of mixed populations of antigen-primed, Ia-restricted Th cells.

Antigen-nonspecific macrophage factors modulating the antibody response in vitro

Antibody response to an antigen involves the co-operation between three types of cells: macrophages, T cells and B cells. The cognate interactions between these cells play a fundamental role in the expression of a specific antibody response, but the last is modulated by antigen-nonspecific soluble factors produced either by macrophages or by T cells. Macrophages elaborate a spectrum of molecules modulating the function of lymphoid cells; among them are IL1 and prostaglandins of the E series, which are respectively enhancer and inhibitor of the antibody response in vitro. These molecules alter T cell and B cell activities through different mechanisms involving activation or inhibition of IL2 production, or alteration of cells surface antigens. However, the cellular events following the fixation of soluble factor on its receptors are not known.