OSTEOPETROTIC (OP OP) MICE DEFICIENT IN MACROPHAGES HAVE THE ABILITY TO MOUNT A NORMAL T-CELL-DEPENDENT IMMUNE-RESPONSE/

The osteopetrotic (op/op) mouse possesses an inactivating mutation in the CSF-1 gene that is associated with a lack of certain mononuclear p hagocyte populations. To examine the effects of these deficiencies on T-cell-dependent immune functions, the responses of op/op and normal m ice to a T-cell-dependent antigen, ovalbumin, and to a foreign histoco mpatibility antigen were compared. The ability of op/op mice (1) to in duce antigen-specific proliferation of naive T-cells, (2) to generate cytotoxic T-lymphocytes, (3) to supply spleen cells to serve as stimul ators in a mixed lymphocyte reaction, and (4) to produce IgM and IgG a ntibodies was indistinguishable from normal mice. These data are consi stent with the involvement of specific macrophages, or other cells who se development is independent of CSF-1, in these immune responses. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.