Antigen-specific helper factor production by immortalized clone of OVA-specific T cells. I. In vitro activity

Immortalized clones of virally transformed OVA-specific T cells produce antigen-specific helper factor upon stimulation in vitro. The helper factor activate DNP-primed B cells to multiply and synthesize IgG anti-DNP antibodies. The trigger of the helper clone is antigen specific and the B cell-stimulating hapten must be coupled to the specific T cell carrier in order to transfer the help signal from the activated T clone to the B lymphocytes. Activation of the helper clone is performed by antigen-pulsed macrophages and cannot be achieved by the free soluble antigen. However, cell-free supernatant of the antigen-pulsed macrophages can stimulate the helper cells. Thus the antigenic determinant must be presented to the helper cell in the form of macrophage-processed antigen. These requirements for antigenic stimulation and the activity of the secreted helper factor demonstrate that the immortalized helper clone preserved the cellular components which control the antigen-specific immune function of the normal T lymphocyte.