Interaction of subpopulations of murine lymph node lymphocytes in antigen-induced [14C]-thymidine incorporation: T and B cell synergy in the response to antigen.

The antigen-induced [14C]-thymidine incorporation of murine lymph node cells (LNC) that were non-adherent (NAD) or adherent (AD) to nylon wool was studied. In contrast to NAD-LNC, AD-LNC responded like unfractionated LNC, and these responses were T lymphocyte dependent. By co-culturing NAD-LNC with subpopulations of AD-LNC the cellular requirements and interactions necessary for maximal incorporation of [14C]-thymidine were determined. A synergistic effect was observed when NAD-LNC and AD-LNC were co-cultured. Synergism was not dependent on T lymphocytes or macrophages in the AD-LNC population but was associated with the B lymphocyte subpopulation. These results indicate that the number of B lymphocytes present in a population of LNC can significantly influence the magnitude of the response to antigen.