Anamnestic response induced by antigen persisting on follicular dendritic cells from cyclophosphamide-treated mice.

In contrast to most mouse lymph node cells, follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) resist cyclophosphamide (Cy)-mediated destruction in vivo. In this study researchers sought to determine if antigen-bearing FDCs from Cy-treated animals maintained biological activity. Researchers were especially interested in whether FDCs from Cy-treated animals could stimulate an antibody response when combined with primed spleen cells and whether the FDCs needed to be intact and viable for stimulation to occur. The effect of Cy treatment on lymph node histology, number of T cells and B cells and the "spontaneous antibody response" was determined.