REGULATORY T-CELLS IN THE HUMORAL RESPONSE OF PROTEIN-DEFICIENT MICE

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 35  (1) , 25-32
Abstract
Cell suspensions from the spleen or thymus of mice fed normally or mice that were protein deficient were injected into mice from each dietary group and syngeneic nudes. Antigen [Ag], Polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) was injected at the stage cell transfer and the antibody titers of the recipient animals were compared with those of control animals given only Ag. The regime was repeated using cell suspensions from donor animals which were primed with Ag. Spleen cells were suppressive only when transferred from deficient to normal mice. Thymocytes generally lacked suppressive effects, except when given to irradiated mice injected with ''normal'' spleen cells. Thymocytes from deficient mice were marginally enhancing in nude mice, deficient mice and older ''normals''. Responses to PVP may be determined by distinct ''suppressor-inducing'' and ''suppressor'' T [thymus-derived] cells which act via helper T cells. The latter probably affect B [bone marrow-derived] cells directly and largely influence Ig[immunoglobulin]G production. The ratio of helper to suppressor (inducer and effector) T cells is probably increased by protein deficiency.