Functional study of human tonsillar follicular dendritic cells

Follicular dendritic cells (FDC) isolated from human tonsils and adenoids appear as round clusters where the FDC surround lymphoid cells. Using fluorescein and colloidal gold labelled antibodies we determined their surface antigens, the immunoglobulins they fix and the cells they envelope. Isolated FDC react with specific anti-FDC antibodies but also with an anti-monocyte/macrophage antibody and with anti-HLA-DR antibodies. They retain IgG, IgM, IgA and IgE but not IgD immunoglobulins; this retention occurs, according to our results, via their Fc and C3b receptors. The cells they envelope are mainly B cells, but also occasionally T helper cells. T suppressor cells were only rarely found in contact with FDC. We suggest that FDC create a micro-environment favourable to the proliferation and differentiation of B cells during the humoral response.