Synergistic effects of the xi d gene in X chromosome congenic mice. I. Inability of C3.CBA/N mice to respond to thymus-dependent antigens in adoptive transfer assays

In this paper the authors show that the synergistic defect seen in C3.CBA/N B cells is also elicited in adoptive transfer assays to thymus-dependent (TD) antigens such as TNP-KLH and PC-KLH, antigens to which both parental strains respond. The data suggest that under conditions in which T cell help may be limiting or in which the intact physiology of the T and B cells has been disrupted, C3.CBA/N B cells demonstrate profound immunologic impairment; however, when adequate T cell help is available and the splenic architecture is not disrupted, their immune responses appear to progress in a normal fashion.