• 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 41  (1) , 211-216
Abstract
An antigen-specific suppressor factor (TSF) produced by mouse T lymphocytes prevents immune cells from conferring adoptive immunity on normal recipients. This TSF attaches easily to the macrophage surface; these armed macrophages in the presence of a corresponding antigen manufacture (in vitro) a non-specific macrophage suppressor factor (MSF) which impairs the activity of cells sensitized to homologous or heterologous antigens. MSF is temperature- and trypsin-sensitive, and is not a prostaglandin. Its MW is in the range of 10 kD [kilo daltons]. MSF is synthesized by macrophages de novo subsequent to triggering by TSF and antigen. MSF impairs only the activity of cells mediating contact sensitivity reaction (Ly 1) but has no influence on T suppressor cells (Ly 23). The possibility that MSF is an enzyme is discussed.