Lymphoid Cell Interactions in Cell-Mediated Immunity

Abstract

A key question about cell-mediated immunity is whether it can be induced and effected without participation of bone marrow derived lymphocytes (B cells). The experiments of Cerottini, et al. (1,2) and Sprent and Miller (3) would answer, yes, for they suggest that thymus derived lymphocytes (T cells) can be specifically induced and can carry out allogeneic target cell lysis without B cell participation. The experiments of MacLennan, et al. (4–7) and of van Boxel, et al. (8), however, imply that in the effector step of cell-mediated target cell lysis, the T lymphocyte is not needed. In addition, for several systems antibody can specifically trigger normal lymphoid populations to lyse target cells (9–13).