Identification of plasma cells in lung alveoli and interstitial tissues after localized lung immunization.

Large numbers of antibody-forming cells (AFC) can be identified with the Jerne plaque assay in immunized lung lobes of the beagle dog after localized instillation of particulate antigen. Published data suggest that these AFC are secreting antibody and are responsible for increased levels of specific antibody in immunized lung lobes. If AFC in the lung are actively secreting antibody, there should be an increase in the number of mature plasma cells in lung lobes exposed to antigen. The purposes of this study were to evaluate the number of lymphoid cells present in immunized and control lung lobes and to determine if lung immunization produces a localized increase in the number of plasma cells. Sheep red blood cells (SRBC), autologous dog red blood cells, and saline were instilled into specific lung lobes of beagle dogs with the aid of a fiberoptic bronchoscope. Light and transmission electron microscopy studies of tissues from lung lobes instilled with SRBC showed perivascular infiltrates and intra-alveolar accumulations of lymphoid cells which were not present in control lung lobes. The morphology of these lymphoid cells ranged from small lymphocytes through mature plasma cells. From 5% to 15% of the cells present in the interstitial tissues and alveoli of immunized lung lobes were plasma cells. These observations suggest that lymphoid cells which entered the SRBC immunized lung can mature to plasma cells which are probably responsible for the local production of antigen-specific antibody.