Different rules govern help for cytotoxic T cells and B cells [20]

Abstract

RECENT experiments with radiation chimaeras1,2 indicate that T cells differentiating in an H-2D compatible, but H-2I different, thymic environment are completely unresponsive to vaccinia virus. The explanation favoured2 for this surprising finding is that participation of helper T cells3 (TH) is an absolute requirement for the generation of virus-immune cytotoxic T cells (Tc). No response is seen because the TH populations are 'locked in' to recognising the spectrum of H-2I antigens presented on radiation-resistant thymic cells2. They cannot, therefore, interact with the Tc precursors which are genetically different in the I region. The result is a total failure of responsiveness. We report ..