The role of B lymphocytes in cell-mediated immunity. II. Delayed hypersensitivity induced by dinitrophenyl-Ficoll in dinitrophenyl-keyhole limpet hemocyanin-immunized guinea pigs

Dinitrophenyl (DNP)-Ficoll will elicit typical delayed hypersensitivity skin reactions in guinea pigs immunized with DNP-keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH). We observed that lymph node cells (LNC) from these animals produced the lymphokine, monocyte chemotactic factor (MNL CTX) when stimulated by DNP-Ficoll in vitro. This response was antigen and hapten specific since LNC from nonimmune guinea pigs or those immunized with nonDNP containing antigens were not stimulated by DNP-Ficoll. Lymph node cells were fractionated into T- and B-cell-enriched populations to determine the nature of the DNP-Ficoll-responsive cell. Only the B-lymphocyte-enriched population produced MNL CTX in response to DNP-Ficoll. The purity of the B-cell population was demonstrated by its failure to respond to PHA and by the fact that B cells derived from DNP-although they could no longer respond without T-cell help to the T-dependent antigen, DNP-OVA. These findings suggest that the hapten-specific response of guinea pigs to DNP-Ficoll may be a form of B-cell-mediated delayed hypersensitivity.