T Cell Activation of Primed Rabbit Blood Lymphocytes by Antigen

Abstract

Activation of primed rabbit PBL by homologous antigen in the early proliferative phase (on days 3–5) mainly involves lymphocytes which neither secrete specific antibody nor contain immunoglobulin in their cell membrane. This stimulation is antigen-specific, and evidence is given that the major proportion of these cells are T lymphocytes. The B cells forming Av-CHO-specific PFC were studied by autoradiography on days 6 and 12 of culture. Since incorporation of radioactive thymidine was found in the majority of PFC, these cells are also in proliferation.