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P Erb

Publications and source records attributed to P Erb.

105 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Role of macrophages in the generation of T helper cells. IV. Nature of genetically related factor derived from macrophages incubated with soluble antigens.

Macrophages incubated with soluble antigens for 1-4 days release factors capable of inducing T helper cells. The nature and some of the properties of this genetically related macrophage factor (GRF) were investigated. By use of immunoadsorbents, GRF was shown to contain I region-coded products (Ia antigens) linked to a small antigenic fragment. The genes coding for the Ia antigens detectable in GRF lie in the I region of the H-2 complex. GRF does not react with anti-immunoglobulin, anti-C3 or anti-human beta2-microglobulin antisera, and its activity cannot be removed by antigen immunoadsorbents. GRF is heat-labile, sensitive to proteolytic enzymes and has a molecular weight of about 55 000 Daltons. The relationship of GRF to other factors known to contain I region-coded products and reported to be effective in cell cooperation is discussed.

Animals↗

The role of macrophages in the generation of T-helper cells. II. The genetic control of the macrophage-T-cell interaction for helper cell induction with soluble antigens.

Helper cell induction to nonparticle antigens in vitro requires the cooperation of T cells and macrophages, but does not occur if the macrophages are allogenic. The reasons for this were investigated. Malfunction of allogenic macrophages was excluded by cultures with their syngenic T cells; suppressor cell induction was excluded by admixture experiments. Thus, T cells and macrophages only cooperated if they were genetically similar. The genetic locus (loci) involved was mapped. Using congenic lines differing only at the H-2 complex, the genetic control of T-macrophage interaction was localized in the H-2 region. Mice with intra H-2 recombinants were used to map the T-macrophage interaction locus in the I-A region of the H-2 complex (formerly known as poly-D, L-ala-poly-L-lys. Recombinants were also used to exclude the presence of another T-macrophage locus either the K, I-B, or I-C, SS-Slp, or D regions of the H-2 complex. Genetic restrictions for T-macrophage interaction in helper cell induction was shown in mice of the H-2-k, d, b, q, s genotypes as well as in H-2 recombinants. The possible mechanisms and significance of this genetic restriction are discussed.

Amino Acids↗

The role of macrophages in the generation of T helper cells. III. Influence of macrophage-derived factors in helper cell induction.

Helper cell induction to soluble or particulate antigens in vitro requires the cooperation of T cells and macrophages. A direct contact between macrophages and T cells is not obligatory for this cooperation and factors released from macrophages are as effective in activating T cells as the cells themselves. Two different types of macrophage-derived factors where found. The supernatant obtained from purified macrophages incubated with antigen for several days generates helper cells in absence of macrophages or additional antigen, but only if obtained from macrophages which were identical at the I-A subregion of the H-2 complex as the T cells. This factor was called genetically related macrophages factor (GRF). The other factor(s), which is present in the supernatant obtained from macrophages incubated for several days without antigen, replaces macrophages only if the antigen is particulate. This factor(s), called nonspecific macrophage factor (NMF) is not restricted genetically and is also obtained from allogeneic macrophages. The importance of both these factors in helper cell induction is discussed.

Animals↗

Accessory cell-dependent selection of specific T-cell functions.

Activation of many T-cell functions depends on their interaction with antigen-presenting accessory cells which express I region associated (Ia) products. Cells expressing accessory cell function include those of the monocyte/macrophage lineage and dendritic cells. More recently, B cells and a number of tumour cell lines of macrophage or B-cell origin were shown to act as accessory cells in certain assays. We showed previously that normal peritoneal exudate macrophages (PEC) induced both T-cell proliferation as well as T-cell help, whereas various Ia+ tumour lines of macrophage or B-cell origin, although stimulating antigen-specific T-cell proliferation, did not significantly activate T-cell help. We report here that during the initial T-cell activation in vitro accessory cells (PEC or Ia+ tumour cells) select particular T cells to express previously determined functions. Moreover, some tumour cell lines induce suppressor T cells which inhibit helper activity.

Animals↗

Spontaneous hypoglycemia associated with autoimmunity specific to human insulin.

A 55-yr-old woman with a history of Graves' disease experienced attacks of postprandial hypoglycemia for 6 yr. An insulinoma could not be confirmed by repeated fasting tests and by surgical pancreas revision. Extracted pancreatic insulin was chemically normal. Fasting plasma total insulin (1.22 nM = 183 microU/ml) and proinsulin (0.48 nM) were elevated and greatly increased after oral glucose. Glucose-clamp studies revealed delayed insulin clearance. Plasma free-insulin levels were normal. Insulin-binding antibodies were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and radioimmunoassay with human insulin as ligand but not with pork or beef insulins. Analysis with a modified ELISA suggested a monotypic and monoclonal human insulin autoantibody, which showed a restriction to the lambda-light chain. T-lymphocytes (predominantly helper) demonstrated increased responsiveness to beef, pork, and human insulins by proliferation assay. A T-lymphocyte line showed exclusively human insulin specificity. All this indicated cellular and humoral anti-human insulin autoimmunities. Clinically, the cause of hypoglycemia associated with elevated total insulin and proinsulin was misdiagnosed as atypical insulinoma. The study of total and free plasma insulin levels and sensitive antibody assays specific to human insulin were necessary to correctly diagnose autoimmune hypoglycemia.

Autoimmune Diseases↗