Rosette-forming ability of thymus-derived lymphocytes in humoral and cell-mediated immunity. II. Helper cell activity.

The technique of velocity sedimentation at unit gravity was used to determine the size and rosette-forming ability of helper cells in nonimmune and immune C57BL/6 mice. Helper T cells were assayed by the ability to cooperate with bone barrow (B) cells in the antibody response to sheep erythrocytes (SRBC) in vivo. 19S helper cells in nonimmune animals were nonrosette-forming small lymphocytes; after immunization with SRBC in complete Freund's adjuvant, 19S helper cells were nonrosette-forming medium lymphocytes. 7S helper cells in immune animals were small lymphocytes which did not form rosettes. No SRBC binding by helper cells was observed under the conditions of rosette formation used.