Cells involved in cell-mediated and transplantation immunity. II. A consideration of the functional identity of the cells involved in both humoral and cell-mediated immunity: a phylogenetic approach.

The literature concerned with the types of cells that participate in the humoral and cell-mediated immune response has been reviewed. It is postulated that the initial cells that are involved in mediating both types of immunity are functionally identical in that both are antigen-reactive cells. In the case of the humoral immune response, the interaction of the antigen-reactive cells with the antigen leads to the release or transfer of "information" to the antibody-forming cell, resulting in the synthesis and secretion of antibody molecules. In the case of cell-mediated immunity, it is considered that the primitive antigen-reactive cell itself transforms into the sensitized cell which infiltrates the site of antigen administration.