Th1 and Th2 CD4+ T cells provide help for B cell clonal expansion and antibody synthesis in a similar manner in vivo.

The relative ability of Th1 and Th2 T cells to help B cells remains controversial as do the mechanisms by which both T cell subsets provide help in vivo. Whether this help affects the clonal expansion and/or differentiation of B cells has been difficult to assess due to the low frequency of Ag-specific T and B lymphocytes. We have employed a novel technique to directly monitor the clonal expansion of Ag-specific T and B lymphocytes in vivo. OVA-specific TCR transgenic T lymphocytes were polarized toward a Th1 or Th2 phenotype in vitro. These cells were then transferred into syngeneic recipients, along with B cell receptor transgenic hen egg lysozyme-specific B lymphocytes. Our results indicate that Th1 and Th2 cells support B cell responses to a similar extent in vivo and that they achieve this in the same manner by migrating into B cell follicles to promote CD154-dependent B cell clonal expansion and Ab production.