EFFECTS OF THYMUS‐INDEPENDENT (B) CELLS AND THE H‐2 GENE COMPLEX ON ANTIVIRAL FUNCTION OF IMMUNE THYMUS‐DERIVED (T) CELLS

Abstract

Summary Antiviral activity in vivo exerted by ectromelia virus‐immune spleen cells transferred to ectromelia‐infected recipients and cytotoxicity against virus‐infected target cells in vitro were both properties of non‐immunoglobulin (Ig)‐bearing cells (which included T cells). Ig‐bearing cells, including thymus‐independent (B) cells and antibody‐secreting cells, were much less active in vivo when injected alone and tended to block rather than amplify the effect triggered by T cells. Ig‐bearing cells were also slightly active in vitro , possibly because some T cells have detectable Ig. Antiviral effects in cell transfer experiments were seen only when immune cell donors and infected recipients shared the same H‐2 gene complex. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the T cell response to ectromelia infection is directed against specific virus‐induced change(s) in antigen(s), specified by gene(s) in the H‐2 complex, which appear in virus‐infected cells.