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D H Sherr

Publications and source records attributed to D H Sherr.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Inhibition of c-myc expression induces apoptosis of WEHI 231 murine B cells.

Treatment of WEHI 231 immature B-lymphoma cells with an antibody against their surface immunoglobulin (anti-Ig) induces apoptosis and has been studied extensively as a model of B-cell tolerance. Anti-Ig treatment of exponentially growing WEHI 231 cells results in an early transient increase in c-myc expression that is followed by a decline to below basal levels; this decrease in c-myc expression immediately precedes the induction of cell death. Here we have modulated NF-kappaB/Rel factor activity, which regulates the rate of c-myc gene transcription, to determine whether the increase or decrease in c-Myc-levels mediates apoptosis in WEHI 231 cells. Addition of the serine/threonine protease inhibitor N-tosyl-L-phenylalanine chloromethyl ketone (TPCK), which blocks the normally rapid turnover of the specific inhibitor of NF-kappaB/Rel IkappaBalpha in these cells, caused a drop in Rel-related factor binding. TPCK treatment resulted in decreased c-myc expression, preventing the usual increase seen following anti-Ig treatment. Whereas inhibition of the induction of c-myc expression mediated by anti-Ig failed to block apoptosis, reduction of c-myc expression in exponentially growing WEHI 231 cells induced apoptosis even in the absence of anti-Ig treatment. In WEHI 231 clones ectopically expressing c-Myc, apoptosis induced by treatment with TPCK or anti-Ig was significantly diminished and cells continued to proliferate. Furthermore, apoptosis of WEHI 231 cells ensued following enhanced expression of Mad1, which has been found to reduce functional c-Myc levels. These results indicate that the decline in c-myc expression resulting from the drop in NF-kappaB/Rel binding leads to activation of apoptosis of WEHI 231 B cells.

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Fas(CD95)/FasL interactions required for programmed cell death after T-cell activation.

Receptor crosslinking of T-cell hybridomas induces cell activation followed by apoptosis. This activation-induced cell death requires de novo synthesis of RNA and proteins, but the actual gene products that provide the death signal have not been identified. We show here that receptor crosslinking induces Fas ligand and upregulates Fas, and that the ensuing engagement of Fas by Fas ligand activates the cell-death programme. Cell death, but not activation, can be selectively prevented by a soluble Fas-immunoglobulin fusion protein. Thus, Fas and Fas ligand are the death-gene products, and their interaction accounts for the molecular mechanism of activation-induced T-cell death.

3T3 Cells↗

The role of peritoneal stromal cells in the survival of sIgM+ peritoneal B lymphocyte populations.

Peritoneal (PE) B cells, a large fraction of which belong to the B-1 subset (i.e., the CD5+ B cell lineage), exhibit unusual growth and/or survival characteristics. To evaluate if these characteristics reflect intrinsic properties of PE B cells or the support provided by a potentially unique peritoneal microenvironment, B cells from various organs were cultured on PE stromal cell monolayers. It was determined that sIgM+ PE B cell populations survive for notably long periods of time (at least 4 weeks) when cultured with PE stromal cells. Contact of PE B cells with stromal cell monolayers optimized B cell survival. Although expressing a similar spectrum of adhesion molecules as peritoneal stromal cells, splenic and bone marrow stromal cells were significantly inferior at supporting PE B cells. Increased survival of PE B cells was characterized by a significant but transient increase in proliferation and by an increase in the percentage of B220/CD45high/CD5+ PE B cells. PE stromal cell support of B cell populations did not extend to all B or even to all B-1 cell populations since survival of splenic B cells, only a minority of which belong to the B-1 lineage, or thymic B cells, a majority of which belong to the B-1 lineage, was not enhanced by culture on PE stromal cells. Results demonstrate: (a) a system for relatively long-term maintenance of mature B cells, (b) that the growth/survival of PE B cells is preferentially supported by PE stromal cells, and (c) that growth on PE stromal cells is a characteristic of peritoneal B cells but not necessarily of splenic B cells or B-1 cells from other organs. The suggestion that the local microenvironment contributes to unusual growth, survival, or anatomic distribution of B-1 cells is discussed.

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A cultured malignant B-1 line serves as a model for Richter's syndrome.

Human chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a malignancy of B-1 cells characterized by the accumulation of mature appearing, long lived, slow growing B-1 cells in peripheral blood. CLL occasionally evolves into an aggressive large cell lymphoma termed Richter's syndrome. NZB mice can be used to model the early stage of CLL because aged NZB mice can spontaneously develop slow growing malignant B-1 cell clones. The malignant NZB B-1 clones fail to grow in culture and are typically carried in vivo as passaged lines. During serial passage, an aggressive lymphoma developed as a result of a continued transformation of the original B-1 clone, similar to the development of Richter's syndrome. An in vitro cell line was established from the aggressive lymphoma, which was stromal dependent and could rapidly metastasize when passaged into recipient animals. Analysis of adhesion molecules did not reveal any consistent characteristics that could account for the metastatic potential of the Richter's-like cells. In addition, the aggressive in vitro line had the identical heavy chain sequence as the slow growing NZB malignant B-1 clones. The in vitro and in vivo aggressive B-1 cells had very high levels of IL-10 message, and underwent more apoptosis in response to anti-IgM than did nonaggressive B-1 clones. Taking these characteristics together, we have composed a comprehensive animal model system for human CLL that includes both the aged NZB mice for the early stage and the recipients of the in vitro B-1 line for the late stage or Richter's syndrome. This model system can be used to study, not only the ontogeny and genetic linkage of CLL, but also the regulatory factors involved in transformation and growth both in vivo and in vitro.

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A simple fluorescence method for surface antigen phenotyping of lymphocytes undergoing DNA fragmentation.

Apoptosis, a metabolically active process of programmed cell death characterized by DNA fragmentation, is believed to play an important role in development of lymphocyte repertoires and in embryogenesis. Studies of this phenomenon would be greatly facilitated by the development of a simple assay capable of identifying and isolating intact apoptotic cells. A rapid fluorescence assay which identifies relatively small, intact cells containing fragmented DNA is described in this report. Thymocytes in which DNA fragmentation is induced by culture with or without dexamethasone are readily identified by their bright blue fluorescence after a 15 min treatment with Hoechst 33342, a DNA binding fluorochrome which diffuses through cell membranes. Since Hoechst 33342 staining does not require destruction of the cell membrane, it is possible to directly phenotype cell surface antigen expression on Hoechst 33342bright lymphocytes by conventional immunofluorescence techniques and to evaluate membrane integrity of Hoechst 33342bright cells by dye exclusion criteria. The advantages of this system are that it: (1) is rapid and simple, (2) quantitates the percentage of cells fragmenting their DNA and presumably undergoing apoptosis, (3) permits standard immunofluorescence staining of cell surface markers to identify even minor cell subsets of presumably apoptotic cells within heterogeneous populations, (4) provides the tools (fluorescence activated cell sorting) for purifying intact cells containing fragmented DNA for further biochemical studies, and (5) provides a means for identifying cells which exclude vital dyes and in which DNA fragmentation will eventually result in cell death.

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Mechanisms by which benzo[a]pyrene, an environmental carcinogen, suppresses B cell lymphopoiesis.

The capacity for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) to suppress immune cell function has been well documented. Nevertheless, mechanisms responsible for PAH immunosuppression and potential effects of PAH on lymphocyte development (lymphopoeisis) remain poorly defined. Murine bone marrow cultures were used in the present studies to determine if and by what mechanism(s) benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P), a prototypic and highly carcinogenic PAH, suppresses B cell lymphopoiesis. Emphasis was placed on similarities between the processes leading to transformation and immunosuppression and on a possible role for programmed cell death (apoptosis) in B[a]P lymphotoxicity. Data presented herein indicate that: (1) B[a]P suppresses B cell lymphopoiesis in bone marrow cultures at extremely low concentrations (10(-8) M); (2) benzo[e]pyrene, the relatively noncarcinogenic congener of B[a]P, is approximately 1000 times less potent than B[a]P in suppressing B cell lymphopoiesis; (3) bone marrow cells from PAH-resistant DBA/2 mice are less sensitive to B[a]P than cells from C57BL/6 mice; (4) B[a]P induces preB cell apoptosis; and (5) alpha-naphthaflavone, an inhibitor of Ah-receptor dependent, P450 isoenzyme activity, blocks B[a]P-mediated preB cell apoptosis and inhibits B[a]P-dependent suppression of lymphopoiesis. The results support the hypothesis that B[a]P suppression of B cell lymphopoiesis is mediated at least in part by the induction of programmed cell death and that the Ah receptor and/or P450 isoenzymes are involved in this process. The results suggest the potential for PAH to affect development of the B lymphocyte repertoire.

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Fluoranthene induces programmed cell death and alters growth of immature B cell populations in bone marrow cultures.

Many studies have demonstrated that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons adversely affect mature mammalian immune systems. However, little is known about the cellular mechanism(s) mediating this immunosuppression or the potential for these ubiquitous environmental chemicals to similarly compromise lymphocyte development (lymphopoiesis). Murine bone marrow cultures were exploited in the present studies to evaluate the potential for fluoranthene, a mutagenic, cocarcinogenic, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, to modulate B cell lymphopoiesis. In this well characterized system, interactions between immature bone marrow-derived precursor B (preB) cells and bone marrow-derived stromal cells closely mimic preB-stromal cell interactions in vivo and resemble interactions between other bone marrow-derived hematopoietic cells and their supporting stroma. Data presented herein indicate that: (i) fluoranthene suppresses B lymphopoiesis within 2 days in bone marrow cultures; (ii) fluoranthene suppresses lymphopoiesis at least in part by direct interactions with preB cells; (iii) fluoranthene lymphotoxicity is mediated by rapid induction of DNA fragmentation characteristic of programmed cell death (apoptosis) and (iv) preB cell populations surviving the initial death signal or preB cell populations exposed to lower doses of fluoranthene (0.5-5 micrograms/ml) exhibit altered growth and survival characteristics. The data suggest several levels at which fluoranthene could compromise B lymphopoiesis.

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Interleukin 4 induces the maturation of idiotype-specific regulatory B cell populations.

CD5+ B cells have been shown to be disproportionately associated with autoimmune diseases and transformation. In many cases, their apparent ability to bypass self-tolerance is manifested by the production of autoantibodies. These observations, plus the hypothesis that CD5+ B cells represent a distinct B cell lineage, encourage studies into the conditions and factors that influence their development. In the present study, we employed a well-established assay for murine CD5+ B cell function, i.e., their ability to augment the responses of IgHb-linked idiotypic determinants on anti-(4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenyl) acetyl (NP) antibody (Nbb) idiotype-bearing CD5- B cells to a T-independent antigen, together with multiple methods of cell surface phenotyping, to evaluate the potential for interleukin (IL) 4 to effect maturation of CD5+ B cells, CD5+, IgM+, Thy-1-, and NPb idiotype-specific cells panned on antibody-coated petri dishes or sorted by flow cytometry from spleen were capable of augmenting NPb idiotypic responses of NP-KLH-primed responder cells to NP-Ficoll. Splenic B cell populations depleted of CD5+ B cells failed to affect idiotype expression even after 2 days in culture, a time when a small percentage of CD5+ B cells appeared to be regenerated. However, idiotype-specific regulatory activity could be restored in CD5- splenic B cell populations by culture for 2 days with recombinant IL-4. Cells responsible for idiotype-specific regulatory activity after culture with IL-4 were in fact CD5+, IgM+, and Thy-1.2- B cells, demonstrating that IL-4 can drive the functional, if not the phenotypic, maturation of splenic B cells associated with the CD5+ B cell lineage. The results illustrate one possible mechanism by which T cells could control the maturation of cells belonging to the CD5+ B cell lineage.

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Characterization of a B cell helper factor(s) derived from CD5+ B cell hybridomas.

Work from our laboratory suggests that the selective advantage of frequently autoreactive CD5+ B cells is to provide activation signals to CD5- antigen-specific B cells. This hypothesis is supported by the observation that supernatants from CD5+ B cell hybridomas replace CD5+ B cell populations in helping idiotypic B cell subsets respond to antigen plus anti-idiotype antibody. The present study was designed to initiate the characterization of CD5+ B hybridoma-derived helper factor(s) (BHF) and to compare BHF to previously described cytokines. Elution of BHF from a lectin column enabled significant enrichment of the apparently glycosylated helper factor(s) from serum-free hybridoma supernatant. Gel filtration of this enriched activity revealed two significant peaks of helper activity, one at approximately 19-22 kDa and a second at 29-32 kDa. BHF activity in each fraction was sensitive to protease treatment. To determine if some previously described cytokines of approximately the same molecular weights were responsible for BHF activity, BHF fractions were tested for cytokine activity in respective bioassays. At least 2000 units of BHF did not contain detectable levels of IL-1, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-6, GM-CSF, G-CSF, or IFN-gamma activity. Furthermore, three hybridomas which produced BHF did not transcribe detectable levels of mRNAs specific for IL-1, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, GM-CSF, or IFN-gamma. The results suggest that CD5+ B cell hybridomas produce a lymphokine(s) distinct from cytokines commonly associated with B cell activation. The potential roles of this lymphokine in immunity and disease are discussed.

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A CD5+ B cell hybridoma derived factor(s), which induces maturation of CD5+, idiotype-specific B-cell populations.

A number of investigators have demonstrated the association of CD5+ (Ly-1/Leu-1) B cells with autoimmunity, excessive B-cell proliferation, and transformation. Previous work from our laboratory, among others, suggests that the selective advantage of this frequently autoreactive B-cell subset is to provide activation signals to conventional antigen-specific B cells. If one current hypothesis is correct then the overrepresentation of CD5+ B cells in some diseases and their novel capacity to act as helper cells reflect the activities of a separate B-cell lineage. Because of these observations it is of particular interest to evaluate the factors which contribute to the maturation of the CD5+ B-cell subset. The possibility that CD5+ B cells produce a factor or factors capable of influencing their own development was the focus of the present investigation. Rather than attempt to obtain soluble factors from heterogeneous CD5+ B-cell populations which could be contaminated with cytokine secreting monocytes or which could require as yet undefined activation signals in order to secrete putative factors, we chose to evaluate the production of CD5+ B-cell inducing factor(s) by monoclonal CD5+ B-cell hybridomas. Added incentive to this approach was provided by the observation that these hybridomas elaborate a factor(s) which, together with (NPb) idiotype-specific antibody produced by the hybridoma, substitutes for CD5+ B-cell populations in activating antigen-specific (NPb idiotypic) B cells in vitro. Furthermore, because of the low percentage of CD5+ B cells in the spleen and their relatively low level of CD5 antigen expression, we employed a sensitive functional assay rather than surface antigen expression alone to detect small numbers of mature CD5+ B helper cells. With this previously described system it was possible to observe the induction of functional CD5+ B cells following a 40 h culture of apparently CD5- B-cell populations with a 19-22 kd factor or factors derived from a CD5+ B hybridoma. Data presented here and elsewhere suggest that this CD5+ B-cell inducing activity is not mediated by IL-1, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IFN-gamma, GM-CSF, or TNF. The role that such a B cell derived, B-cell directed factor may play in immunity and disease is discussed.

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In vitro generation of suppressor T cells. Induction of CD3+, IgH-restricted suppressor cells.

Previous studies of the immune response of C57BL/6 mice to the 4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenyl acetyl (NP) hapten determined that challenge with antigenic forms of hapten induces both immunity and suppression. The anti-NP plaque-forming cell response can be down regulated by an Ag-induced cascade consisting of three suppressor T cell subsets. These three populations, termed Ts1, Ts2, and Ts3 have been characterized to have inducer, transducer and effector functions, respectively. Although the functions of each of these subsets have been examined in vivo, the cellular requirements for in vitro Ts induction have only been investigated for the Ts3 population. The present study characterizes the cellular events that lead to the induction of the Ts2, suppressor transducer population. Culture of naive C57BL/6 spleen cells with Ts1-derived suppressor factor in the absence of exogenous Ag leads to the generation of Ts2 cells that mediate Ag-specific suppression of NP plaque-forming cell responses. Phenotypic analyses demonstrate that a CD3+, CD4-, CD5+, CD8+, and I-J+ precursor population is stimulated by TsF1 to become mature Ts2 cells that express CD3, CD8, and I-J but not CD5. Although previous studies have reported an essential role for B cells in the induction of other Ts populations, depletion of B cells from Ts2 induction cultures had no effect on Ts2 generation. Despite the absence of B cells in these cultures, the mature Ts2 cells were functionally IgH restricted. Studies with IgH congenic B.C-8 mice suggest that this restriction specificity was imposed by the idiotype-related determinants expressed on the TsF1, not the T cell genotype.

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A role for L3T4+ T cells and their lymphokines in the generation of suppressor effector (TS3) cells.

The cellular requirements for the in vitro induction of antigen-specific suppressor T cells were examined. Previous reports indicated that Ia-bearing macrophages and anti-idiotypic B cells are required as accessory cells to facilitate the generation of suppressor effector (TS3) cells which regulate the response to the 4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenyl acetyl (NP) hapten. The present study describes two distinct T cell populations which interact to generate antigen-specific TS3. Fractionation of the T cell populations with monoclonal antibody to the L3T4 determinant led to the identification of an NP-specific L3T4- TS3 progenitor population and an L3T4+ helper/inducer subset. In the presence of NP-coupled antigen, the L3T4+ subset could induce progenitor TS3 to differentiate into mature TS3 cells. The activity of the L3T4+ inducer population could be replaced with specifically activated cloned helper cells which were not NP-reactive since an I-Ab-restricted, insulin-reactive, L3T4+ clone was capable of supporting the generation of NP-specific TS3. Inducer activity appeared to be confined to the Th1 but not the Th2 subset. In addition, 18-hr supernatants from antigen-activated clones were capable of substituting for L3T4+ cells or T cell clones in TS3 induction cultures. The TS maturation/differentiation factor(s) active in these supernatants does not appear to be IL-1, IL-2, IL-3, or interferon-gamma alone since purified sources of these lymphokines failed to induce TS3 activity.

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Ly-1 B helper cells in autoimmune "viable motheaten" mice.

Previous work has demonstrated that Ly-1 B cells from normal C57BL/6J mice help the response of B cell subsets to the 4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenylacetyl hapten (NP). This regulatory cell population, called BH, preferentially helps the expression of plaque-forming B cells which express a predominant set of serologically related determinants collectively known as the NPb idiotype family. The specificity of BH cell activity in the NP system is a reflection of NPb idiotype-specific BH cell surface receptors. Thus, BH cells recognize autologous (i.e., idiotype) antigens. Given these observations and previous associations of increased Ly-1 B cell frequency in autoimmune mice, it was hypothesized that autoreactive Ly-1 BH cells may be present in high frequencies and in an activated state in autoimmune mice. To test this hypothesis the immunologic activity of BH cells in autoimmune viable motheaten (mev/mev) mice was studied. It was determined that splenic BH cells are approximately 10 times more frequent in viable motheaten than normal mice. The fact that BH cells from viable motheaten mice are activated was suggested by the presence of NPb idiotype-specific BH replacing helper activity in sera or B cell supernatants from these autoimmune mice. The soluble helper activities constitutively produced in mev/mev splenic B cell cultures and detected in mev/mev serum were resolved into two moieties, an NPb idiotype-specific immunoglobulin and a nonimmunoglobulin lymphokine(s) fraction. Purified mev/mev B cell-derived B cell maturation factor could substitute for the lymphokine moiety in the NPb idiotype helper cell assay. These results suggest that at least two signals, anti-idiotype immunoglobulin and a late-acting B cell maturation factor, are required for BH-dependent helper activity. The relationships of these results to current concepts of B cell activation mechanisms and the possible association of Ly-1 BH cells with autoimmunity are discussed.

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Idiotype-specific Ly-1 B cell-mediated helper activity: hybridomas that produce anti-idiotype antibody and nonimmunoglobulin lymphokine(s)1.

Previous work has shown that the expression of a predominant family of idiotypic determinants (NPb) in the in vitro response to the 4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenyl acetyl (NP) hapten is dependent on helper activity provided by Ly-1- and Ig-bearing B cells called BH. The ability of these BH cells to perform this idiotype-specific, genetically controlled helper function is related to the NPb idiotype specificity of their cell surface receptors. However, the means by which BH cells communicate with and stimulate NPb idiotypic B cell subsets is unknown. In this paper, an Ly-1- and immunoglobulin-bearing B helper cell hybridoma is described. Supernatants from the hybridoma or its subclones were shown to specifically help the response of NPb idiotypic PFC to NP-Ficoll when added to responder cell cultures depleted of Thy-1 and Ly-1 regulatory cell populations. Under these experimental conditions hybridoma supernatants functioned in much the same fashion as populations of Ly-1- and Ig-bearing BH helper populations described previously. NPb idiotype-specific helper activity was mediated by two separable activities elaborated by the hybridoma, an anti-NPb idiotype antibody and a non-Ig (lymphokine) activity. It was shown that both the Ig and the lymphokine components were required for helper activity. Kinetics experiments showed that the anti-idiotype antibody must be added early in the response to NP-Ficoll, whereas the lymphokine fraction could be added at least as late as day 3 of a 4-day culture in order to observe NPb idiotype-specific help. The data suggest that Ly-1 B cell hybridomas may affect the responsiveness of B cell subsets initially by interaction of anti-idiotype antibody with NPb idiotypic B cell surface receptors, followed by growth or maturation signals mediated by non-Ig lymphokine(s). The possibility that the helper activity of these Ly-1 B cell hybridomas represents the combined effects of an idiotype-specific network system and nonspecific growth or maturation factor activity in direct B cell-B cell interactions is discussed.

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The role of adherent accessory cells in the generation of effector suppressor T cells.

The role of accessory cell populations in the generation of effector suppressor (Ts3) cells was studied. By using an in vitro culture system, it was previously determined that the induction of NP-specific effector suppressor activity requires T cells, antigen, and an anti-idiotypic B cell population. We now demonstrate that the generation of Ts3 cells in this system also requires accessory cells. The accessory population appears to play a role in the processing and presentation of antigen. These antigen-presenting accessory cells are required early in the induction phase of Ts3 generation. These accessory cells can present NP coupled to immunogenic or non-immunogenic polypeptide carriers, including polymers of L-amino acids. However, NP coupled to polymers of poorly metabolized D-amino acids fail to induce suppressor T cell generation. Furthermore, the data demonstrate that an H-2 homology must exist between the Ts3 precursors and the antigen-presenting cell population if suppressor activity is to be generated. We also characterize the differential genetic restrictions that govern the induction of Ts3 cells that control suppression of either T cell or B cell responses. The data suggest that although I-J region encoded gene products control the induction and effector phases of suppressor cell activity as measured on T cell responses, the suppression of B cell responses appear to be controlled by I-A gene products. Possible cellular mechanisms that might explain these findings are discussed.

Amino Acids↗

Idiotype-specific helper cells (BH) express immunoglobulin markers and employ T cell function-associated molecules.

An Lyt-1+ population, distinct from T cell subsets, that helps expression of B cell responses to the 4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenyl acetyl (NP) hapten was characterized. This lymphoid population, called BH, is present in the spleens of normal and athymic mice and preferentially helps the expression of plaque-forming B cells that carry NPb idiotypic determinants. To define the mechanism by which this cell population functions, the roles of T and B lymphocyte function associated antigens were studied. The data indicate that BH cells express immunoglobulin receptor components, i.e., IgM, IgD heavy chain, and lambda light chain immunoglobulin markers as well as the J11d marker associated with immature B cells. BH cells may also express determinants identical to or cross-reactive with the T cell-associated antigens L3T4a, L3T4b, and LFA-1 as defined by treatment with monoclonal antibodies specific for these antigens. In addition, L3T4a- and LFA-1- but not Lyt-1-like antigens appear to be functionally involved in BH-dependent helper activity, since augmentation of NPb idiotypic PFC responses was blocked with anti-L3T4a or anti-LFA-1 monoclonal antibodies. Further analysis of BH-containing populations indicates that T cells are probably not involved in BH cell function and therefore are not responsible for the presence of Lyt-1, L3T4a, or L3T4b determinants in this T-independent system. The relationship of this helper cell subset to conventional T and B cell populations is discussed.

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Anti-idiotypic B cells are required for the induction of suppressor T cells.

A nylon wool-adherent, B cell-enriched population is required during the in vitro induction of third order effector suppressor T cells (Ts3). This B cell population expresses IgM and IgD and is devoid of conventional T cell markers such as Thy-1, L3T4, and Lyt-1. Treatment of the B cell population with anti-NP antibodies expressing the NPb idiotype and complement specifically eliminated the ability to generate Ts cell activity, suggesting that the critical B cells expressed anti-idiotypic receptors. To independently verify the role of anti-idiotypic B cells in the generation of Ts cells, B cells were panned on antibody-coated plates. The results demonstrated that only NPb idiotype-binding B cells could induce effector suppressor cells from naive T cell populations. The combined data demonstrate the role of Ig network interactions in the generation of Ts cells.

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