Human T cell proliferation in response to E. coli presented by autologous macrophages is antigen specific.

Interactions of human T cells and macrophages/monocytes (MOs) following stimulation by a Gram negative micro-organism (E. coli) have been investigated. Immunoadsorption studies showed that the E. coli-induced proliferative response of human T cells was antigen specific. The T cell pool could be selectively depleted of E. coli reactive cells by short exposure to autologous E. coli pulsed Møs. This treatment did not remove T cell reactivity directed towards an unrelated antigen (tetanus toxoid). This demonstrated the antigen specificity of the immunoadsorption step, which was further confirmed by reconstitution of E. coli reactivity after supplementing the adsorbed T cell pool with E. coli specific T cells. The Mø requirement for the E. coli-induced T cell response was confirmed and kinetic studies showed a dose-dependence with respect to the amount of E. coli used for both E. coli-induced T cell proliferation and the efficiency of immunoadsorption.