Induction and Properties of DNP-Specific T Cells in Mice Sensitized to DNP-Coupled Mycobacterium

Abstract

Splenic T lymphocytes from mice sensitized to 100 μg of DNP-coupled mycobacterium (DNP-Tbc) showed in vitro proliferative response against DNPor TNP-conjugated protein antigens. The increased uptake of ³H-thymidine induced by DNP-HSA was partially inhibited by the addition of 10^-4M DNP-EACA. DNP-AECM-Ficoll did not induce any significant proliferative responses in DNPTbc-primed T cell population. However, priming with DNP-Tbc augmented anti-DNP IgG antibody response induced with DNP-Ficoll. The augmentation of IgG response was not due to the presence of DNP-primed B cells or anti-DNP antibody. The results showed that the priming with DNP-Tbc induced DNP-reactive T helper cells which could be triggered with DNP-Ficoll. The possible role of mycobacterium in the induction of hapten-specific T helper cells is discussed.