Role of Cellular Antigens in Humoral and Cell-Mediated Immunity as Measured in Vitro 1

Abstract

Summary

The immune responses elicited during a primary immunization in DBA/2J, C3Hf/HeHa, and AKR mice by allografts of the C57BL/6 lymphoma EL4 were studied in vitro. The ⁵¹Cr release assays were used to measure the complement-independent cellular cytotoxicity (C'ICC), the complement-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (C'DCC), and the serum cytotoxicity (SA). The following observations were made: (a) C'ICC was detected against the major histocompatibility antigens (H-2) in all three strains; (b) no C'ICC was detected against the θC3H alloantigen in AKR mice or against the D-region “public” antigens of H-2 (called here “C”) in C3H or AKR mice; (c) C'DCC and/or SA were detected against each of the three antigens in the appropriate responder strains; (d) no major interference was observed between the concomitant complement-dependent humoral response to a nontransplantation alloantigen (θC3H) and H-2, and the cell-mediated response (C'ICC) to H-2; (e) the order of appearance of the C'ICC and C'DCC were different in the three responder strains.

The authors thank Mr. Gabor Papp for his proficient technical assistance.