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Thymus-derived lymphocytes control the expression of immunogenic properties of peritoneal macrophages
Macrophages, given keyhole limpet hemocyanin in vitro, from normal mice initiate in culture antigen-specific T cell-mediated immune reactions. On the other hand, macrophages from nude, from adult-thymectomized, or from neonatal-thymectomized mice are impaired with respect to their capacity to signal such an antigen-specific T cell reaction. Thymocytes from hydrocortisone-treated donors, added in culture to such impaired macrophages, rendered them immunologically potent. The capacity of macrophages from adult thymectomized mice to promote the activation of antigen-specific "helper" T cells which, cooperating with B lymphocytes, would lead to antibody production, was also impaired. Thus, it appears that short-lived T lymphocytes control the maturation of macrophages up to a stage at which they can present antigen-specific T cells with antigen in an immunogenic form. We found that such T lymphocytes also control the phagocytic properties of macrophages, yet the impairment of their immunogenic properties does not seem to be derived from decreased phagocytosis.
Macrophages, given keyhole limpet hemocyanin in vitro, from normal mice initiate in culture antigen-specific T cell-mediated immune reactions. On the other hand, macrophages from nude, from adult-thymectomized, or from neonatal-thymectomized mice are impaired with respect to their capacity to signal such an antigen-specific T cell reaction. Thymocytes from hydrocortisone-treated donors, added in culture to such impaired macrophages, rendered them immunologically potent. The capacity of macrophages from adult thymectomized mice to promote the activation of antigen-specific "helper" T cells which, cooperating with B lymphocytes, would lead to antibody production, was also impaired. Thus, it appears that short-lived T lymphocytes control the maturation of macrophages up to a stage at which they can present antigen-specific T cells with antigen in an immunogenic form. We found that such T lymphocytes also control the phagocytic properties of macrophages, yet the impairment of their immunogenic properties does not seem to be derived from decreased phagocytosis.