Suppressor T cells in the specific control of the carrier response to schistosomula in mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni

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Abstract
The carrier effect, using TNP[trinitrophenyl]-labeled schistosomula was used to measure the helper T cell activity against the schistosomula surface in CBA mice exposed to 30 cercariae of S. mansoni. After infection the helper T cell activity reached a peak in 8-10 days but by 6 wk it had declined to background levels. Five .times. 107 spleen cells from chronically (12-wk) infected mice when injected into 9-day infected mice caused a specific suppression of the helper T cell response to schistosomula. Subsequent fractionation of the spleen cell population using a nylon wool column and specific depletion of T cells from the spleen cell population with anti-Thy 1.2 antisera and complement, showed that the suppressive activity was due to T cells. During infection of mice with S. mansoni a population of suppressor T cells is generated which partially regulates antibody production against schistosome surface antigens.