Heat shock enhances antigen processing and accelerates the formation of compact class II alpha beta dimers.

The heat shock response is a universal and highly conserved cellular response to stress. Here we describe the effect of heat shock induced by elevated temperatures on the processing and presentation of an exogenous Ag, cytochrome c, to an Ag-specific class II-restricted T cell hybrid. Heat shock markedly enhances processing of Ag entering the B cell either through fluid phase pinocytosis or through receptor-mediated endocytosis.

Influence of a bacterial extract on antigen presentation and protection against experimental infections.

Although substances known as immunodulators are usually used to stimulate nonspecific immunity, their mode of action is not well understood. In an effort to clarify this mechanism, we investigated the effect of a lyophilized bacterial extract (Broncho-Vaxom) on experimental infections, on normal or irradiated mice, and on antigen processing.