Abstract
Studies were initiated to determine whether an immune response to the Mls antigen of C3H mice could modify responses of CBA lymphocytes (H-2-compatible) to a foreign H-2 complex. CBA lymphocytes, partially tolerant to the C5H-determined Mls antigen, generated less effector cell activity against C57Bl cells (H-2-incompatible) Chan lymph node cells from normal CBA donors when infused into irradiated C.3H × C57Bl hosts. Effector cell activity was measured as the capacity of the cells in the irradiated spleens to inhibit CBA × C57Bl bone marrow proliferation. In contrast, immunization of CBA mice with C3H × C57Bl cells yielded lower antibody titers against C577Bl cells than immunization with CBA × C57Bl cells. Furthermore, preinjection of CBA mice with C3H × CBA cells strongly reduced the capacity of the animals to produce antibodies against C57Bl cells. Thus, these data support the conclusion that an immune response to a foreign Mls antigen may either enhance or suppress an immune response to H-2-incompatible cells.