Induction of antigen-reactive and IL-2 receptor bearing cells following oral immunization in humans.

A human model of oral immunization using two forms of HI antigen preparation was studied. Oral immunization with killed HI (monobacterial) or HI in a polybacterial mix (polybacterial) induced an enhanced antigen-driven proliferative response in circulating PBL of normal subjects as well as an increase in the precursor frequency of HI antigen-specific cells using limiting dilution analysis. However, the proliferative response was better maintained at a high level in subjects after completion of immunization with the polybacterial vaccine, whereas the response was small and transient following oral immunization with the monobacterial vaccine. Clonal analysis of the proliferative response demonstrated that the precursor frequency of HI antigen-specific cells in the circulating pool was not expanded to account for the differences, despite repeated ingestion of the vaccine. An analysis of PBL following oral immunization using anti-TAC monoclonal antibody revealed an increase in the number of IL-2 receptor-bearing cells in subjects orally immunized with the polybacterial vaccine, with maximal numbers occurring at day 62 when the number of precursors fell but the proliferative response remained high. This suggests that the enhanced and sustained proliferation in bulk cultures is due in part to a contribution to the overall proliferation by in vivo polyclonally-activated IL-2 receptor positive cells which proliferate in the presence of IL-2. Taken together, the results obtained are consistent with the concept that 'restricted' cell activation may be important in the mechanism of selective protection found following oral immunization with monobacterial HI vaccine.

Study of lymphocyte interaction in human mesenteric lymph nodes in vitro.

The immune function of lymphocytes isolated from human mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) has been examined. Large yields of viable lymphocytes were obtained from MLN without the need for using enzyme or mucolytic agents. In comparison to gut mucosal lymphocytes, MLN lymphocytes (MLNL) were technically easier to manipulate and to use in providing a more quantitative analysis of T-B cell interaction. The results presented indicate that the pattern of immunoglobulin secretion and immunoregulation of lymphocytes isolated from MLN was similar to that in cells isolated from the lamina propria, supporting that MLN constitute an important component of gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT).

Regulation of human gut B lymphocytes by T lymphocytes.

The aims of this study were first, to assess whether or not immunoglobulin secretion from human gut mucosal B lymphocytes can be modified by T lymphocytes, and second whether human gut mucosal T lymphocytes are capable of regulating mucosal B lymphocyte function. T and B lymphocyte enriched cell populations were isolated from gut mucosa and co-cultured in varying proportions. Addition of T lymphocytes to B enriched mucosal cell populations (ratio B:T = 2:1) showed that mucosal B lymphocytes were responsive to T cell 'help'. Addition of more T cells (ratio B:T = 2:10) suppressed immunoglobulin synthesis.