Antigenic properties of subsets of splenic T lymphocytes responding to lectins.

The aim of the present study was to characterize the antigenic properties of spleen cells responding in vitro to various mitogenic stimuli. Mouse spleen cells were treated with alloantibodies and C and then cultured with various concentrations of lectins. The exposure of spleen cells to various dilutions of either anti-theta serum and C or anti-Ly serum and C inhibited the response to optimal concentrations of PHA to a greater extent than the response to optimal concentrations of Con A. With the exception of the optimal lectin concentration, theta-antiserum and C had a stronger inhibitory effect on the response to Con A than to PHA. The exposure of spleen cells to H-2 antiserum and C inhibited their response to Con A to a greater extent than to PHA. The inhibitory activity of H-2 antiserum and C was inversely correlated with the dose of PHA used for stimulation. The lower the concentration of PHA used for stimulation the more effective was the inhibitory effect of the antiserum. The inhibitory effect of H-2 antiserum and C on the response to Con A was highest at optimal concentrations of the mitogen, and somewhat less pronounced above or below this concentration. The present study suggests that subsets of splenic T-cells that react to various concentrations of mitogens, differ in their theta- and H-2 alloantigenicity.