Influence of carriers on the development and localization of anti‐2,4,6‐trinitrophenyl (TNP) antibody‐forming cells in the murine spleen: II. Suppressed antibody response to TNP‐Ficoll after elimination of marginal zone cells

摘要

AbstractThe macrophages in the marginal zones in mice spleens were eliminated by i.v. injection of dichloromethylene diphosphonate encapsulated in liposomes. After immunization with a thymus‐dependent (trinitrophenylated keyhole limpet hemocyanin; TNP‐KLH) or thymus‐independent type 1 (TNP‐lipopolysaccharide) antigen, no differences in antibody responses in treated and untreated mice were observed. However, immunization with a thymus‐independent type 2 (TI‐2) antigen (TNP‐Ficoll) resulted in a strong decrease of the antibody response in macrophage‐depleted animals. Anti‐TNP serum levels dropped 10‐fold and the number of antibody‐forming cells in the spleen 30‐60‐fold. These results confirm the special role of the marginal zone macrophages in the processing of TI‐2 antigens, as earlier sugge