FUNCTION OF MACROPHAGES IN ANTIGEN RECOGNITION BY GUINEA PIG T LYMPHOCYTES

TLDR

Guinea pig thymus-derived lymphocytes require macrophage cooperation for antigen-induced DNA synthesis. The study examined how MHC determinants influence macrophage–lymphocyte interactions using cells from inbred strain 2 and 13 guinea pigs. Efficient antigen presentation requires shared MHC between macrophage and lymphocyte; allogeneic macrophages fail to stimulate proliferation not because of inhibitors or cell differences, and alloantisera block DNA synthesis by disrupting macrophage–lymphocyte interaction.

Abstract

Antigen activation of DNA synthesis in immune thymus-derived lymphocytes of guinea pigs requires the cooperation of macrophages and lymphocytes. We have investigated the role of histocompatibility determinants in this macrophage-lymphocyte interaction using cells from inbred strain 2 and 13 guinea pigs. The data demonstrate that efficient presentation of macrophage-associated antigen to the lymphocyte requires identity between macrophage and lymphocyte at some portion of the major histocompatibility complex. The failure of allogeneic macrophages to effectively initiate immune lymphocyte proliferation was not the result of the presence of an inhibitor of blastogenesis released in mixtures of allogeneic cells, peculiarities of the antigen or lymphoid cells employed, nor differing kinetics of activation by allogeneic macrophages. In addition, data were presented that demonstrated that alloantisera inhibit lymphocyte DNA synthesis by functional interference with macrophage-lymphocyte interaction.