Stimulating cell types in the autologous mixed leukocyte reaction in man
Beale, M.G.; MacDermott, R.P.; Stacey, M.C.; Nash, G.S.; Hahn, B.H.; Seiden, M.V.; Jacobs, S.L.; Loewenstein, L.S.
Journal of Immunology 124(1): 227-232
1980
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-1767 PMID: 6444227 Document Number: 161363
Although there is general agreement that the responding cell type in the autologous mixed leukocyte reaction (MLR) is a T cells, monocytes and null cells. All cell types were used as responders against each cell type as stimulator (after 4000 R). T cells were superior to all other populations as responders to autologous stimulators. In comparative studies using different stimulator cell types with T cells as responders, monocytes produced the highest (stimulation index (SI) 78.7), null cells an intermediate (SI 20.1) and B and T cells a negligible (SI 2.6 and 1.0, respectively) level of stimulation. Although monocyte-depleted MN cells failed to stimulate autologous lymphocytes, addition of increasing numbers of monocytes resulted in a steady rise in stimulation until high cell densities were reached. Monocyte-depleted non-T cells (B plus null cells) were also capable of stimulating autologous T cells. Reducing the number of B cells in the monocyte enriched population to < 3% resulted in enhanced T cell stimulation. T cells are the principle responding cell type in the autologous MLR and the best stimulators in decreasing capacity are apparently monocytes and null cells with essentially no stimulation produced by B or T cells.