Cell interactions between histoincompatible T and B lymphocytes. The H-2 gene complex determines successful physiologic lymphocyte interactions.

We used congenic-resistant mouse strains to answer questions concerning the respective roles of genes coding for major histocompatibility and background genotypes in T (thymus-derived)-B (bone marrow-derived) lymphocyte cooperative responses to hapten-protein conjugates. These studies demonstrate conclusively that the gene or genes present in the H-2 complex control the capacity of antigen-specific T and B cells to effectively interact. These findings led us to postulate that there exists on the B-lymphocyte surface an "acceptor" molecule for the active T-cell product or for the T cell itself.