Role of lymphocyte activation products (LAP) in cell-mediated immunity. II. Effects of lymphocyte activation products on lymph node architecture and evidence for peripheral release of LAP following antigenic stimulation

The experiments reported here were concerned with determining the effects of lymphocyte activation products (LAP) on lymph node architecture, and with assaying afferent lymph for evidence of the peripheral release of LAP during the induction of an immune response. Intralymphatic inoculation of purified homologous LAP into guinea-pigs resulted in increased weight and cellular content of the draining node. Histologically these nodes showed paracortical distension and dense aggregations of lymphoid cells or `cellular plugs' in the paracortical sinuses. It was suggested that one effect of LAP may be to cause cellular retention in the paracortex of lymph nodes by regulating the rate of cell exit via the sinuses of the node. The peripheral lymph of rabbits was assayed for its ability to inhibit macrophage migration and to accelerate lymphocyte DNA synthesis after stimulation with three different antigens. The antigens were chosen to give a spectrum which ranged from a primarily humoral response (erythrocyte stimulation) through a mixed humoral and cell-mediated response (diphtheria toxoid stimulation) to a predominantly cell-mediated type of response (skin contact sensitization to fluorodinitrobenzene–FDNB). Paracortical distension with lymphoid cell sinus plugging, similar to that observed in the guinea-pig nodes following intralymphatic injection of LAP, were common features of both the diphtheria toxoid and FDNB responses. It was concluded that the development of this type of sinus plugging and paracortical distension might be related to multiple activities of LAP generated and released either at the peripheral antigen depot or within the draining node.