A. Gulbransonjudge et I. Maclennan, SEQUENTIAL ANTIGEN-SPECIFIC GROWTH OF T-CELLS IN THE T-ZONES AND FOLLICLES IN RESPONSE TO PIGEON CYTOCHROME-C, European Journal of Immunology, 26(8), 1996, pp. 1830-1837
The sites of accumulation and growth of antigen-specific T cells was a
ssessed during the V alpha 11/V beta 3 T cell receptor-restricted resp
onse of IE(k+) mice to pigeon cytochrome c. In the T zone, the respons
e was early but transient; V alpha 11/V beta 3(+) T cell numbers fell
to background levels as germinal centers developed. The follicles were
a major site of specific T cell growth, but V alpha 11/V beta 3(+) T
cells were not obvious in foci of extrafollicular B cell growth in the
red pulp. As germinal centers waned, V alpha 11/V beta 3(+) T cells i
n the T zones again rose above background levels and some persisted in
the follicles. After the initial stage of T cell priming, specific T
cell growth seems to occur where specific interaction can occur with B
cells that are presenting processed antigen.