Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

Antigen specific helper and suppressor factors have a similar structure, with two major sections, a 'variable region', determining antigen specificity which is likely to be controlled by Immunoglobulin VH genes, with which it shares idiotype and framework determinants. Specific factors also have a 'constant region' which does not vary between strains and minimally between species or with the antigenic specificity of the factors, which are defined by rabbit anti-helper or anti-suppressor antisera. This region determines the biological function of the molecule. Anti-Ia antisera react with factors, but the nature and function of Ia molecules on T cell factors is still unclear. The model of specific factor structure, with C and V regions resembles that of immunoglobulin, and it is thus possible that the C region of factors, like the V region is Ig linked. Because there are multiple T cells, helping and suppressing antibody responses specifically, it seems improbable that all of these cells could interact directly with rare antigen-specific B cells. Thus we propose that macrophage presenting cells are the key to the integration of signals for immune induction and regulation for T and B cells. Since Ir genes have been identified in the macrophage presenting cells interacting with both T and B cells, this suggests that macrophage Ia antigens are of importance in the integration of triggering signals for the lymphoid pool.

Original publication

DOI

10.1007/BF00230172

Type

Journal article

Journal

Mol Cell Biochem

Publication Date

07/05/1980

Volume

30

Pages

177 - 193

Keywords

Animals, Antibody Formation, Antigens, Surface, B-Lymphocytes, Epitopes, Genes, MHC Class II, Humans, Immunoglobulin Allotypes, Immunosuppression, Lymphocyte Cooperation, Macrophages, Mice, Molecular Weight, Rats, Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell, T-Lymphocytes