Temperature dependence of antigen-specific rosette formation by lymphocytes from immunised mice

J Immunol Methods. 1977;15(3):291-7. doi: 10.1016/0022-1759(77)90066-7.

Abstract

Spleen cell suspensions from mice undergoing a secondary response to sheep erythrocytes (SRBC) contained about one tenth as many specific antigen-binding, rosette-forming cells (RFC) when they had been washed at 37 degrees C instead of 4 degrees C before rosetting. This difference was correlated with the presence of IgG anti-SRBC antibody in the serum, and the 37 degrees C washings of immunised spleen cells could passively allergise non-immune spleen cells at 4 degrees C for specific rosette formation which was inhibitable by anti-mouse F(ab)2 serum. The RFC from actively immunised mice were lymphocytes and not macrophages by morphological and cytochemical criteria. It is suggested that the 37 degrees C-labile RFC are lymphocytes to which IgG antibodies bind in the cold. These data indicate that in the use of antigen-binding cell assays to monitor immunological responses, it is necessary to wash lymphocytes at 37 degrees C before testing.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies
  • Antigens*
  • Epitopes
  • Erythrocytes / immunology*
  • Immunization, Passive
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunologic Techniques
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Spleen / immunology
  • Temperature*

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Antigens
  • Epitopes
  • Immunoglobulin G