Amplifying and Suppressive Effect of Thymus Cells (original) (raw)

Nature volume 234, pages 549–551 (1971)Cite this article

Abstract

THE humoral immune response against a variety of antigens in mice requires the interaction of an antibody forming precursor cell derived from bone marrow (AFPC) and a thymus-derived helper cell1–3. In the chicken, plasma cell formation and immunoglobulin synthesis are ontogenetically controlled by the bursa of Fabricius4, suggesting that in this species the bursa provides the AFPC, but it is not clear what role the thymus plays in the humoral antibody production. Neonatal thymectomy of chickens does affect antibody formation, at least towards some antigens5,6; and by analogy with mice7,8 thymus dependency varies strongly with the antigen dose and also with respect to the class of antibody affected (W. D., and Malchow, D., unpublished work). Attempts to demonstrate a synergistic effect between thymus and bursa cells in the chicken, however, have not been successful7,10. I wish to describe experiments indicating that thymus cells can cooperate with a bursa-dependent component in the production of agglutinating antibodies and also that in a different experimental situation thymus cells show a suppressive effect on antibody formation.

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  1. Biological Laboratories, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02138
    WULF DROEGE

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  1. WULF DROEGE
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DROEGE, W. Amplifying and Suppressive Effect of Thymus Cells.Nature 234, 549–551 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1038/234549a0

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