IMMUNE SUPPRESSION INVIVO WITH ANTIGEN-MODIFIED SYNGENEIC CELLS .2. T-CELL-MEDIATED NONRESPONSIVENESS TO FOWL GAMMA-GLOBULIN

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 122  (5) , 1899-1904
Abstract
I.v. administration of syngeneic spleen cells coupled with the palmitoyl derivative of fowl .gamma.-globulin (p-F.gamma.G) resulted in a profound state of F.gamma.G-specific tolerance in C57BL/6 mice. Administration of p-F.gamma.G coupled syngeneic cells specifically reduced the primary and secondary hapten and carrier-specific PFC responses to TNP[trinitrophenyl]-F.gamma.G. Since the haptenic response was affected, the tolerance functioned at the level of the F.gamma.G-specific helper T [thymus-derived] cell. As few as 103 p-F.gamma.G spleen cells carrying only 1 ng p-F.gamma.G could induce tolerance. At least a 2 day induction period was required. This nonresponsiveness was long-lived, lasting over 120 days. Spleen cells from tolerized mice could transfer suppression to normal syngeneic recipients. Treatment of tolerant spleens with anti-Thy 1.2 antiserum + C [complement] eliminated the suppressor cell activity. Thymocytes and purified splenic T cells from tolerized mice could transfer suppression to normal recipients. At least a component of this nonresponsiveness is mediated by suppressor T cells. The requirement of antigen association with cell membrane components and the general applicability of this method of inducing T cell nonresponsiveness were discussed.