Accessory cells and T cell activation. The relationship between two components of macrophage accessory cell function:...

Accessory cells are required for the activation of helper T cells. We have examined two characteristics of accessory cells, their expression of I-A, and their ability to release IL1. We provide evidence that these two properties are related, and postulate that membrane I-A molecules participate in the pathway leading to IL1-release. Experimental results are described relating I-A to IL1-release as follows: 1. In vitro-educated Ly1 T cells stimulate IL1-release from M phi; this process is H-2-restricted and blocked by anti-I-A antibodies. 2. H-2-restriction between T cells and M phi is overcome in the presence of ConA, but this unrestricted interaction is also blocked by anti-I-A. 3. LPS stimulation of IL1-release is blocked by anti-I-A. These findings suggested an active role for I-A molecules on IL1-producing cells. We next describe a series of experiments designed to assess the requirements for I-A versus IL1 during T cell activation. In a number of experimental systems, T cells demonstrated a requirement for I-A-recognition, but none that could not also be satisfied by IL1: 1. Generation of helper T cells in allogeneic chimeras. 2. Proliferation of KLH-primed lymph node cells. 3. Proliferation of KLH-primed lymph node cells from chronically anti-I-A-suppressed mice. 4. Proliferation of GAT-primed lymph node cells from nonresponder mice. These findings suggest that for many kinds of T cells (not necessarily all) the apparent requirement for I-A-recognition is primarily involved in stimulating IL1-release from accessory cells.