Lymphocyte chemotaxis in inflammation. VIII. Demonstration of lymphocyte chemotactic lymphokines in PPD-induced delayed hypersensitivity skin reaction site in the guinea-pig

Abstract

The experiments were carried out to clarify whether lymphocyte chemotactic factors (LCFs) derived from activated lymphocytes, i.e. lymphocyte chemotactic lymphokines would exist in delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction sites in guinea-pigs. To analyse the problem, we attempted to use an immunoadsorbent column conjugated with respective antibodies against LCFs (LCF-b, LCF-c and LCF-d) isolated from purified protein derivative (PPD)-induced DTH skin reaction sites in guinea-pigs. The chemotactic activity of culture supernatants from PPD- or concanavalin A (Con A)-stimulated lymph node (LN) cells was decreased to about 50% by the immunoadsorbent column with anti-LCF-c antibody or anti-LCF-d antibody, while its activity was little or not influenced by the columns with anti-LCF-b, anti-IgG or anti-IgM antibody. Further experiments using successive immunoadsorption with anti-LCF-c antibody followed by anti-LCF-d antibody showed almost the complete adsorption of the chemotactic activity in the above culture fluids. Additionally, the chemotactic lymphokine which was absorbed by anti-LCF-c antibody had a similar mol. wt. to that of LCF-c (mol. wt about 160,000). However, the chemotactic lymphokine which was absorbed by anti-LCF-d antibody had a mol. wt. of about 27,000; it was clearly distinct in mol. wt. from LCF-d (mol. wt. about 300,000). It is thus suggested that at least one of lymphocyte chemotactic lymphokines exists in the DTH reaction sites and functions as LCF-c.