Cytophilic properties of surface immunoglobulin of thymus-derived lymphocytes.

The cytophilic properties of released surface immunoglobulins of normal thymus lymphocytes and of activated thymus-derived lymphocytes (ATC) were analysed by lactoperoxidase-catalysed radioiodination in conjunction with immunological and autoradiographic techniques. Immunoglobulin from both normal T cells and ATC was cytophilic for macrophages (peritoneal exudate cells), but showed no detectable capacity to bind to either T lymphocytes or to bone-marrow-derived lymphocytes (B cells). Under the operative experimental conditions surface immunoglobulin of B cells did not show appreciable binding to macrophages. These results support the feasibility of models of collaboration between T cells and B cells which involve a soluble antigen-specific collaborative factor (T-cell Ig complexed with antigen) and show an obligatory requirement for macrophages.