Cell interaction during lymphocyte activation

Adherent cells were separated from stimulated lymphocytes by a layer of agarose to determine the requirement for lymphocyte interaction with adherent cells. The results demonstrated that the presence of plastic adherent cells was obligatory for oxidative activation, but contact of plastic adherent cells with oxidized nonadherent lymphocytes was not. A similar relationship was found to exist between adherent and nonadherent populations during PHA and Con A stimulation. In contrast, the responses of PWM- and ZnCl2-stimulated lymphocytes were not augmented by the presence of adherent cells unless the two populations were in contact.