Contact interaction between lymphocytes is a general event following activation and is mediated by LFA-1.

When lymphocytes are activated in vitro, discrete cell-cell contacts are initiated which result in cluster formation. This contact interaction is found in syngeneic or allogeneic mixed leukocyte reactions as well as in mitogen-stimulated cultures (concanavalin A, periodate, lipopolysaccharide). T cells as well as B cells display the binding phenomenon. This activation-dependent lymphocyte-lymphocyte adhesion involves LFA-1, since monoclonal antibodies (including Fab fragments) against this molecule inhibit adhesion between clustering lymphocytes in a dose-dependent manner, whereas antibodies directed to several other cell surface antigens are inactive. Since a wide variety of functional interactions are inhibited by antibodies to LFA-1, it may be concluded that LFA-1-mediated cell contact is a discrete and essential step between a recognition event and the generation of functional activities by lymphocytes in general.