Lymphocyte transformation induced by autologous cells

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Cellular immunology
• Transplantation immunology

Background:

• Human peripheral blood T lymphocytes can be stimulated to proliferate in vitro.
• This proliferation occurs when T cells are cultured with autologous B-lymphoblastoid cell lines, mitogen-induced lymphoblasts, or non-T lymphocytes.
• This phenomenon is known as the autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction (AMLR).

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the characteristics of the autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction (AMLR).
• To identify the cellular components and determinants responsible for stimulating T lymphocyte proliferation in AMLR.
• To understand the relationship between AMLR and other immune responses like allogeneic graft rejection.

Main Methods:

• Culture of human peripheral blood T lymphocytes with various autologous lymphoid cells.
• Assessment of T lymphocyte proliferation in response to different stimulatory cell types.
• Analysis of the nature of the stimulating determinant on non-T lymphocytes.

Main Results:

• Autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction (AMLR) exhibits properties of an immune response, including memory and specificity.
• The capacity to stimulate T lymphocyte proliferation in AMLR is dependent on the lineage of the stimulating lymphoid cell.
• The determinant responsible for stimulating AMLR on non-T lymphocytes is identified as an Ia determinant.

Conclusions:

• The autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction (AMLR) is an intrinsic immune response within the host.
• Ia determinants on non-T lymphocytes play a crucial role in initiating AMLR.
• AMLR likely represents an extension of the immune response observed in allogeneic graft rejection and mixed lymphocyte reactions.