TRANSFER IN-VITRO OF TUBERCULIN HYPERSENSITIVITY BY SENSITIZED LYMPHOCYTES

An account is given of the experimental in vitro transfer of PPD-speci fic delayed hypersensitivity to peripheral leukocytes pulsed with a ve ry small portion of autologous lymphocytes pre-sensitised with PPD-spe cific transfer factor (TF). Transfer was assessed by means of the leuk ocyte migration inhibition test, the lymphocyte locomotion test, and t he leukocyte adherence inhibition test. These tests were positivized i n all the experiments. It is suggested that these results indicate tha t TF does not act in itself, but triggers a reaction that expands the effect of hypersensitivity.