T-SUPPRESSOR CELLS AND SUPPRESSOR FACTOR WHICH ACT AT THE EFFERENT STAGE OF THE CONTACT SENSITIVITY SKIN REACTION - THEIR PRODUCTION BY MICE INJECTED WITH WATER-SOLUBLE, CHEMICALLY REACTIVE DERIVATIVES OF OXAZOLONE AND PICRYL CHLORIDE

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 41  (4) , 1005-1013
Abstract
The H2O soluble, chemically reactive thioglycollic acid thioether derivatives of oxazolone and picryl chloride were synthesized and tested for their ability to prevent contact sensitivity development. Mice given 2 injections of these agents showed partial or complete unresponsiveness when subsequently sensitized and challenged with oxazolone and picryl chloride, respectively. This unresponsiveness was associated with T suppressor cells, Ts-eff(cs), which blocked the contact sensitivity reaction efferent stage, i.e., the passive transfer of contact sensitivity. These Ts-eff (cs) were entirely specific when tested with the corresponding antigen. The suppression which they caused had a non-specific final common pathway. Cells from mice injected with the oxalazolone and picryl thioethers and painted with the corresponding contact sensitizer produced a suppressor factor in vitro. This factor specifically blocked passive transfer by immune cells incubated in it. It armed macrophages which then caused suppression. These macrophages were most effective when injected i.p. The suppressor factor had a MW between 30,000 and 100,000 and the .alpha.-oxazolone factor was absorbed by oxazolone-albumin Sepharose and could be eluted with oxazolone-.epsilon.-aminocaproic acid. It was absorbed by concanavalin-A-sepharose and could be eluted with .alpha.-methylmannoside. Apparently the ability of water soluble, chemically reactive haptenes to evoke a Ts-eff (cs) population may be relevant to the rarity of severe drug reactions following the injection of chemically reactive drugs.

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