Abstract
We have examined the ability of macrophages (Mphi) to transmit T-cell derived suppressor signals to other T cells. The suppressor signal studied is an antigen-specific factor which suppresses the ability of adoptively transferred, sensitized lymphocytes to express contact hypersensitivity in normal recipients. We have found that this factor binds to peritoneal exudate Mphi via cell surface structures which can be blocked with heat-aggregated gamma globulin. Dead (HK) Mphi bind the factor but fail to present it in a functional way to assay (immune) T cells, whereas live (L) Mphi perform both functions. Further, L Mphi can retrieve the factor in an active form from the surfaces of HK Mphi. Based on these and other findings (1-5), we discuss the possibility that Mphi may play as important a role in presenting T-cell communication signals to the cells of the immune system as they do in presenting antigen.
Full Text
The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (897.5 KB).
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Asherson G. L., Ptak W. Contact and delayed hypersensitivity in the mouse. I. Active sensitization and passive transfer. Immunology. 1968 Sep;15(3):405–416. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Cowing C., Schwartz B. D., Dickler H. B. Macrophage Ia antigens. I. macrophage populations differ in their expression of Ia antigens. J Immunol. 1978 Feb;120(2):378–384. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Erb P., Feldmann M. 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. J Exp Med. 1975 Aug 1;142(2):460–472. doi: 10.1084/jem.142.2.460. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Feldmann M., Nossal G. J. Tolerance, enhancement and the regulation of interactions between T cells, B cells and macrophages. Transplant Rev. 1972;13:3–34. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-065x.1972.tb00058.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Gillette R. W., Lance E. M. Kinetic studies of macrophages. I. Distributional characteristics of radiolabeled peritoneal cells. J Reticuloendothel Soc. 1971 Aug;10(2):223–237. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Greene M. I., Pierres A., Dorf M. E., Benacerraf B. The I-J subregion codes for determinats on suppressor factor(s) which limit the contact sensitivity response to picryl chloride. J Exp Med. 1977 Jul 1;146(1):293–296. doi: 10.1084/jem.146.1.293. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Grey H. M., Anderson C. L., Heusser C. H., Borthistle B. K., Von Eschen K. B., Chiller J. M. Structural and functional heterogeneity of Fc receptors. Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant Biol. 1977;41(Pt 1):315–321. doi: 10.1101/sqb.1977.041.01.037. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Julius M. H., Simpson E., Herzenberg L. A. A rapid method for the isolation of functional thymus-derived murine lymphocytes. Eur J Immunol. 1973 Oct;3(10):645–649. doi: 10.1002/eji.1830031011. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Ptak W., Gershon R. K. Immunosuppression effected by macrophage surfaces. J Immunol. 1975 Nov;115(5):1346–1350. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Ptak W., Naidorf K. F., Gershon R. K. Interference with the transmission of T cell-derived messages by macrophage membranes. J Immunol. 1977 Aug;119(2):444–449. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Tadakuma T., Pierce C. W. Mode of action of a soluble immune response suppressor (SIRS) produced by concanavalin a-activated spleen cells. J Immunol. 1978 Feb;120(2):481–486. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Unkeless J. C. The presence of two Fc receptors on mouse macrophages: evidence from a variant cell line and differential trypsin sensitivity. J Exp Med. 1977 Apr 1;145(4):931–945. doi: 10.1084/jem.145.4.931. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Zembala M., Asherson G. L. Depression of the T cell phenomenon of contact sensitivity by T cells from unresponsive mice. Nature. 1973 Jul 27;244(5413):227–228. doi: 10.1038/244227a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]