The Journal of Experimental Medicine, Vol 133, 133-146,
Copyright © 1971 by The Rockefeller University Press
IN VITRO AND IN VIVO ACTIVITY OF A LYMPHOCYTE AND IMMUNE COMPLEX-DEPENDENT CHEMOTACTIC FACTOR FOR EOSINOPHILS
Stanley Cohen M.D.1 and
Peter A. Ward M.D.1
1 From the Department of Pathology, State University of New York at Buffalo, New York 14214, and the Immunobiology Branch, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington, D.C. 20305
When cultured in the presence of specific antigen, lymphocytes from delayed-hypersensitive guinea pigs release a number of biologically active substances into the culture medium. Such active supernatants can react with immune complexes in vitro to generate a factor which is chemotactic for eosinophils. The factor involved is unique, since previously described chemotactic factors for other cell types require for their generation either immune complexes or substances released into lymphocyte culture, but not both. In the case of the eosinophil chemotactic factor, the interaction between the substance elaborated by the lymphocytes and the immune complexes appears to be specific in that the immune complexes must contain the same antigen as that used to activate the lymphocyte cultures. Although this factor was generated in an in vitro system, it has been shown to possess in vivo as well as in vitro activity. It is therefore possible that this factor may be of biological significance in situations where eosinophils are participants in inflammatory or immunologic reactions.
Submitted on August 17, 1970