Titration and circulation of cells mediating delayed type hypersensitivity in normal and cyclophosphamide treated mice during response to sheep red blood cells.

The delayed-type-hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction observed in mice primed i.v. with low doses of sheep red blood cells is not detectable after priming with large doses. Estimation of the number of DTH mediating cells (DTH-C) was performed by titration (D50 determination) using local adoptive transfer of these cells mixed with antigen into footpads of unprimed mice. In opposition to the absence of peripheral DTH-C, splenic DTH-C were more numberous after large doses than after low doses of antigen. The ability of cyclophosphamide to restore DTH responsiveness in mice primed with large doses appeared to be related to an increased cirulation of DTH-C. These cell circulated only in mice without any detectable B-cell response or in which this response was depressed. Thus a B-cell dependent splenic retention process of DTH-C is discussed as the origin of DTH unresponsiveness observed after priming with large doses of antigen.