Presence on idiotype-specific suppressor T cells of receptors that interact with molecules bearing the idiotype.

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Abstract
All A/J mice produce anti-p-azophenylarsonate (anti-Ar) antibodies, some of which share a cross-reactive idiotype. The idiotype can be suppressed by treatment with anti-idiotypic antiserum before immunization, although normal concentrations of anti-Ar antibodies are synthesized. Previous studies showed that suppressed mice, if hyperimmunized and then allowed to rest, contained up to 10% of splenic T [thymus-derived] cells which formed rosettes with autologous RBC [erythrocytes] coated with Fab fragments of anti-Ar antibodies bearing the idiotype. The present results show that the rosette-forming T cells include the idiotype-specific suppressor T-cell population. This suppressive activity is largely depleted by removal of the rosette-forming lymphocytes and the rosettes themselves are highly suppressive. The data do not establish whether all of the idiotype-specific rosette-forming cells are suppressor cells. The system may provide a source of large numbers of suppressor cells for further study and facilitate investigation of the mechanism of generation of idiotype-specific suppressor cells.