Blocking antigen-antibody complexes on the T-lymphocye surface identified with defined protein antigens. II. Lymphocyte activation during the in vitro response.

Antibody-forming cells against DNP (DNP-AFC) appear in nonantigen-stimulated cultures of spleen cells from mice which were boosted with antigen DNP-CGG or TNP-KLH in saline several weeks before the vitro cultures were started. The similar kinetics of the appearance of DNP-AFC in antigen-stimulated and non-antigen-stimulated cultures suggests that new B cells were triggered during the in vitro culture. The data supporting the concept of antigen being retained in the body for long periods of time in the form of antigen-antibody complexes on the T-cell surface is discussed.