Antigen binding thymic lymphocytes: Specific binding of soluble antigen molecules and quantitation of surface receptor sites

H. D. Engers, E. R. Unanue

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

Lymphocytes binding hemocyanin (KLH) were studied in the thymus and spleen of unimmunized mice. There is a small population of thymic cells which specifically binds KLH. Unrelated antigens do not block the binding. A comparison was made of techniques to detect antigen binding cells. The presence of an antibody to the cell bound antigen favored the detection of antigen bound to the T cell surface. Quantitation of antigen bound to spleen and thymus cells was determined immunochemically. Spleen cells bind about five times more antigen than thymic cells. Anti Ig antibodies did not consistently affect the binding of antigen to thymic cells but significantly reduced that bound to spleen cells. It is concluded that thymic cells have lower receptor density than spleen cells (0.75 of which may be B lymphocytes) and that this lower receptor density may explain the lower binding strength of the T cell receptor.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)293-304
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Immunology
Volume112
Issue number1
StatePublished - Jan 1 1974

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