B memory cells in the thymus: part of the pool of potentially circulating memory cells

J Immunol. 1977 Nov;119(5):1846-8.

Abstract

Immunization of mice with sheep red blood cells (SRBC) or Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induces the appearance of B memory cells in the thymus. In this paper the origin of these B memory cells was investigated. Therefore, mice primed with either SRBC or LPS 6 months previously and nonprimed mice were joined for parabiosis. Four weeks later the parabiotic mice were separated from each other. Another 3 weeks later thymus cells from the primed and nonprimed mice were transferred separately into lethally irradiated mice in order to determine the adoptive PFC response. It was found that the 4-week period of parabiosis could account for the appearance of a distinct population of B memory cells in the thymus of the nonprimed mice. This result suggest that the B memory cells which appear in the thymus belong to the pool of potentially circulating memory cells.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, Bacterial
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Cell Movement
  • Escherichia coli / immunology
  • Hemolytic Plaque Technique
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunoglobulin M
  • Immunologic Memory*
  • Lipopolysaccharides / immunology
  • Lymph Nodes / immunology
  • Mice
  • Parabiosis
  • Spleen / immunology
  • Thymus Gland / immunology*

Substances

  • Antigens, Bacterial
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunoglobulin M
  • Lipopolysaccharides