Open AccessAugmentation of antigen‐specific lymphoproliferative responses in vitro by biological response modifiers
Author(s) -
GRUIJL T. D. DE,
MOORE J. J.,
VRIES E.,
BLOMBERGVAN DER FLIER B. M. E.,
FONK J. C. M.,
SCHEPER R. J.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
clinical & experimental immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.329
H-Index - 135
eISSN - 1365-2249
pISSN - 0009-9104
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2249.1994.tb06062.x
Subject(s) - antigen , immunology , toxoid , peripheral blood mononuclear cell , lymphoproliferative response , in vitro , t cell , interferon gamma , biology , medicine , immune system , immunization , biochemistry
SUMMARY The detection of antigen‐specific T cell responsiveness, particularly of resting memory lymphocytes, in cultures of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) may be hampered by a less than optimal antigen presentation in vitro. Augmented sensitivity of the test system may be achieved by the addition of reagents with a beneficial effect on lymphocyte and antigen‐presenting cell (APC) functions. In this study the effect of several biological response modifiers on antigen‐specific T cell proliferation was determined, using nickel sulphate and tetanus toxoid as lest antigens. IL‐lα (100 U/ml). interferon‐gamma (IFN‐γ) (10 U/ml), and indomethacin (2 μM) were found to significantly enhance nickel‐induced proliferation in PBMC cultures from nickel‐hypersensitive donors (n = 6). Tetanus‐induced proliferation (n = 5) was similarly enhanced, both by the above supplements and by the addition of polyethylene glycol (PEG) or a neuraminidase treatment of the PBMC before culture. The addition to PBMC cultures of a combination of IL‐lα (30 U/ml), IFN‐γ (10 U/ml), and indomethacin (2 μM) is recommended to specifically enhance antigen‐induced lymphoproliferative signals.