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B lymphocyte activation upon exclusive recognition of major histocompatibility antigens by T helper cells
Author(s) -
Pobor Grgur,
Pettersson Sven,
Bandeira Antonio,
MartinezA. Carlos,
Coutinho Antonio
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
european journal of immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.272
H-Index - 201
eISSN - 1521-4141
pISSN - 0014-2980
DOI - 10.1002/eji.1830140305
Subject(s) - biology , major histocompatibility complex , antigen , t helper cell , b cell , immunology , antigen presenting cell , microbiology and biotechnology , t cell , pan t antigens , t lymphocyte , lymphocyte , b 1 cell , mixed lymphocyte reaction , naive b cell , immune system , antibody , monoclonal antibody
Abstract This study has investigated whether exclusive recognition of I‐A or I‐E molecules on the B cell surface by T helper cells is sufficient to activate resting B cells. Lines and clones of long‐term‐cultured T helper cells with specificity for I‐A or I‐E antigens have been derived from mixed lymphocyte cultures between spleen cells from major histocompatibility complex (MHC)‐congenic mouse strains. These cells were tested for helper activity and proved competent to induce resting B lymphocytes expressing the specific MHC antigens to polyclonal expansion and maturation to Ig secretion. B cell activation was shown to require direct recognition of I‐A/E antigens by the helper cells on the responding B lymphocyte surface and it could not be achieved by soluble factors released by “third‐party” helper cell activity ongoing in the same cultures. Since B lymphocyte activation occurs in the absence of antigen recognition by the responding B cells, these observations suggest that I‐A and I‐E molecules expressed on the B cell surface participate in the functional reception of T helper cell‐derived induction signals.