Genetic control of the immune response to collagen. III. Coordinate restriction of cellular cooperation and antigen responsiveness by thymus-directed maturation
Hedrick, S.M.; Watson, J.
Journal of Immunology 125(4): 1782-1788
1980
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-1767 PMID: 6774025 Document Number: 162458
The H-2 restriction of T helper cells from thymus-reconstituted nude mice was examined. Hybrid athymic mice were bred from BALB/c.nu and C57BL/6.nu parental strains, and were reconstituted with foetal thymus tissue from either parental strain. T helper cells from these mice, immunised against sheep erythrocytes, were restricted to cooperation with B cells of the thymic H-2 haplotype. These T helper cells were shown to have originated from the F1 host by functional sensitivity to antisera and complement. The H-2 restriction of thymus-reconstituted F1 nude mice was further investigated by examining expression of the Ir-collagen phenotype. Results showed that the level of antibody produced in response to type-I calf collagen in thymus chimaeras is related to the H-2 haplotype (high responder or low responder) of the reconstituting thymus. These experiments indicate that the thymus environment of T-cell maturation influences both the H-2 restriction and Ir phenotype of a responding immune system. [For Pt. II see ABA 48, 1339].