Cell Transfer Studies in Immunosuppressed Mice

Abstract

Summary

In cell transfer experiments C₃H recipients, which had been immunosuppressed by cycloleucine, were capable of initiating a primary response to sheep erythrocytes if they were given macrophage-antigen mixtures frolm normal or from Cytoxantreated donors. Similarly prepared macrophages from cycloleucine-treated donors and crude cell suspensions derived from normal spleens were ineffective. If the recipients were immunosuppressed with Cytosan, the results were reversed, in that normal spleen cell-antigen mixtures stimulated antibody synthesis but normal macrophage-antigen mixtures did not. The data which were obtained with drug-treated and with Xirradiated recipients support the concept that antigen processing by the macrophage is necessary for initiating a primary type immune response. They also demonstrate the selective susceptibility of macrophages and spleen cells to immunosuppressive drugs.