Abstract
We previously found that mouse T lymphocytes sensitized in vitro against allo‐ or syngeneic fibroblasts, upon injection into syngeneic recipients, do not themselves differentiate into effector cells, but recruit effector T lymphocytes within the draining lymph nodes. Asaresult of sensitization, these initiator lymphocytes acquire a trypsin‐sensitive membrane property which is necessary for recruitment.
We now report studies on the in vivo migratory behavior of initiator lymphocytes following sensitization. We injected ^51^Cr‐labeled initiator lymphocytes into recipient footpads and found significantly increased migration of sensitized cells to the draining popliteal lymph node (PLN) during the first day. By amputation ofthe foot at various times, we showed that migration during the first 12—24 hours was critical for subsequent recruitment. Trypsin treatment of initiator lymphocytes abolished this accelerated migration. Lymphocytes triggered nonspecifically by Con A migrated to the PLN like antigen‐sensitized cells. We also compared the migration of injected lymphocytes from the footpad to the PLN in graftversus‐host and host‐versus‐graft reactions, and found these reactions to differ both from each other and from recruitment in terms of lymphocyte migration.
These findings are discussed in terms of the physiology of the cell‐mediated immune response and the notion of peripheral sensitization.