0000000000075593
AUTHOR
Hans Stötter
Specificity of H-2-linked Ir gene control in mice: recognition of the core structure A--L in defined sequence analogues of (T,G,)-A--L.
For further characterization of the processes involved in Ir gene control, the specificity of antibodies and the cross-reaction on the level of helper T cells was studied for a series of polypeptide antigens related to poly-L(Tyr,Glu)-poly-DL-Ala–poly-LLys[(T,G)-A–L] but carrying more defined side chains. Helper cell specificity was assayed in an in vitro secondary anti-dinitrophenyl (DNP) response by cross-stimulation of primed T cells with the various polypeptide carriers. It was established that these polypeptides, although showing the same response pattern, were recognized as distinct entities in the immune response by B and T cells. If this common pattern is due to the effect of the sa…
T cell factor (interleukin 2) allows in vivo induction of T helper cells against heterologous erythrocytes in athymic (nu/nu) mice.
Mice carrying the nude mutation (nu/nu) lack a functioning thymus and do not contain detectable levels of immunocompetent T cells. We now report that nu/nu mice do have lymphocytes which can be activated in vivo by heterologous erythrocytes and a Lyt-1 T cell-derived factor (interleukin 2) to generate T helper cells. Thus, a lymphokine is described which is able to restore in vivo T helper cell immunocompetence of nu/nu mice. The data may suggest that nu/nu mice contain a low number of T lymphocytes influenced by the cystic remnant of the nu/nu thymus anlage. Alternatively, the data imply that interleukin 2 circumvents the requirement of a thymus during ontogeny of T lymphocytes.