Abstract
The role of macrophages in the production of 2 lymphokines, monocyte chemotactic factor and macrophage activating factor, was investigated. Lymphokine production by guinea pig lymph node and spleen cells required macrophages for thymus dependent antigens and mitogens. In contrast, B cell stimulants which also induce the synthesis of lymphokines were macrophage independent. When populations of relatively pure B or T lymphocytes were isolated, it was found that T cells required viable macrophage cooperation to product these 2 lymphokines and to undergo proliferation in response to specific antigens, whereas B cells could be directly activated in the absence of macrophages. These findings suggest that T and B cells have different requirements for activation and for macrophage cooperation. Furthermore, since lymphokine synthesis is evident within the first 4 hr of stimulant presentation, these observations demonstrate that macrophages play an essential role in the earliest events of lymphocyte activation.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1296-1301 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Journal of Immunology |
Volume | 114 |
Issue number | 4 |
State | Published - 1975 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Immunology and Allergy
- Immunology