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The functional effects of anti-Ig antibodies have been investigated, using an experimental system where B cell activation is brought about by direct and specific interactions with T helper (Th) cells without participation of surface Ig receptors on the responding B cell. We have used Th cell lines and clones directed to class II major histocompatibility complex antigens of the responding B cells, and titrated into cooperative cultures either purified rabbit anti-mouse mu, or monoclonal mouse anti-delta antibodies. Both types of antibodies greatly enhanced B lymphocyte responses to suboptimal concentrations of functionally efficient Th cells, while they had no effect in cultures containing optimal Th:B cell ratios. In contrast, helper activity by low efficiency Th was, at all Th:B cell ratios, enhanced by appropriate concentrations of anti-Ig antibodies. Anti-Ig effects were exclusively observed when B cells were the targets for "cognate" recognition by Th cells. We conclude that ligand binding to surface Ig receptors on resting B cells fails, in our experimental conditions, to overcome "linked" collaboration, but it greatly facilitates productive Th-B cell interactions. Whatever the mechanisms underlying this facilitation, the observations imply roles of surface Ig in Th-dependent B lymphocyte activation other than either passive "focusing" of antigen or activation into reactivity to soluble, unspecific factors.

This report describes single-cell techniques to address the nature of a cellular interaction in which activated T lymphocytes stimulate small resting B cells to develop into antibody-forming cell clones in the absence of any surface immunoglobulin ligand or an antigen bridge. The cloned T helper cell line E9.D4 was stimulated with the anti-V beta 8 antibody F23.1 bound to the plastic of Terasaki 10-ul culture wells. When an excess of T helper lymphocytes was used (1,000 X-irradiated or 600 unirradiated, stimulated E9.D4 cells), 10-25% of B cells responded by antibody formation as judged by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay performed after 5 days of culture. When one of a very small number of B cells were present, the rate-limiting step to antibody-forming cell formation was the number of T cells present. Far fewer T cells sufficed for stimulation when culture trays were tilted to force T and B cells into proximity at the sulcus formed at the bottom edge of the culture wells. When T cell numbers were limiting, unirradiated T cells out-performed irradiated T cells. Some cell clones held for 7 days switched to IgG antibody production. E9.D4 supernatants were virtually ineffective in causing B cell stimulation, even when 3T3 filler cells were added to support cultures. The results suggest that cell contact, and perhaps conjugate formation, with a strongly activated T cell can cause changes in the adjacent resting B cells akin to those of Ig receptor cross-linking, following which a lymphokine flux (even one not involving IL 4 and 5) promotes antibody-forming cell development.