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. 1982 Nov;47(3):477–487.

Antigen transport. I. Demonstration and characterization of cells laden with antigen in thoracic duct lymph and blood.

E B Bell, J Botham
PMCID: PMC1555548  PMID: 7129528

Abstract

Thoracic duct lymph (TDL) of nonimmune rats and mice was examined for the presence of antigen-carrying cells immediately following a single injection of 125I-labelled or fluorescence-labelled serum protein antigens. Small numbers of cells laden with antigen (approximately 1/2000 to 1/5000) were identified in TDL and blood by autoradiography or fluorescence microscopy. The antigen-laden (Ag-L) cells resembled macrophages in that a large number adhered to plastic, they phagocytosed bacteria or a particulate dye, were non-specific esterase positive, radioresistant and could take up more than one antigen at one time in vivo. Surface phenotyping using monoclonal antibodies against rat cell markers established that Ag-L cells did not express Ia determinants. The results suggest the existence of a subpopulation of macrophage-related cells that may be involved in the transport of antigen and in stimulation of antibody responses.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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