EVIDENCE OF SUPPRESSOR CELL-MECHANISM OF ALLOGRAFT TOLERANCE INDUCED BY SPLEEN EXTRACT AND HYDROCORTISONE (H-2D ANTIGENS-NON-H-2 ANTIGENS

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 24  (3) , 145-161
Abstract
The mechanism of allograft tolerance in mice induced by cell-free spleen extract in combination with hydrocortisone [HC] was investigated. HC potentiated tolerance induction when given after the spleen extract. When HC was given before, or during the first 2 wk of antigenic treatment, it counteracted rather than potentiated the tolerance-inducing effect. Spleen or lymph node cells transferred from tolerant donors to untreated or sublethally irradiated sygeneic recipients suppressed the recipients'' response to the particular alloantigens. The suppressive activity of lymphoid cells from tolerant donors was abolished when before their transfer the subpopulation of T [thymus-derived] cells was eliminated by anti Thy-1.2 serum and complement. Suppressor T cells may be involved in tolerance induced by spleen extract and hydrocortisone.