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Published on: August 19, 2014
Complement-dependent stimulation of normal lymphocytes by immune complexes
Journal of Immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950)
|March 1, 1978
Summary
Antibody-antigen complexes stimulate rabbit lymphocyte proliferation, a process dependent on complement (C) activity. The alternative complement pathway is involved, and stimulation occurs in lymphocytes from various tissues but not thymocytes.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Complement System
Background:
- Lymphocyte proliferation is a key immune response.
- The role of the complement system in lymphocyte activation by immune complexes requires further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of complement activity in the in vitro proliferation of normal rabbit lymphocytes stimulated by antibody-antigen complexes.
- To determine the specific complement pathway involved in this stimulation.
Main Methods:
- In vitro culture of normal rabbit lymphocytes from various tissues (peripheral blood, bone marrow, spleen, lymph node) and thymocytes.
- Stimulation with antibody-antigen complexes using serum with varying complement (C) activity (normal, heat-inactivated, zymosan-treated, C4-deficient guinea pig serum).
- Assessment of lymphocyte proliferation in response to stimulation.
Main Results:
- Lymphocyte proliferation was dependent on active complement (C) activity.
- Heat-inactivation or zymosan-treatment of serum abolished or significantly reduced responsiveness.
- Stimulation with immune complexes was sustained by C4-deficient guinea pig serum, indicating alternative complement pathway involvement.
- Lymphocytes from peripheral blood, bone marrow, spleen, and lymph node proliferated, but thymocytes did not.
Conclusions:
- Complement (C) activity is essential for the in vitro proliferation of rabbit lymphocytes stimulated by antibody-antigen complexes.
- The alternative complement pathway plays a significant role in this immune response.
- Specific lymphocyte populations, excluding thymocytes, are responsive to immune complex-mediated stimulation.
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