The effect of immunization with a 14‐kda streptococcal antigen on primate t cell and b cell responses

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Abstract
A streptococcal antigen (SA) of 185 kDa was isolated from Streptococcus mutuns and this antigen induced in vitro helper, suppressor and contrasuppressor activities with primate peripheral blood lymphocytes. The 185‐kDa SA was then treated by sodium dodecyl sulfate and yielded a 4‐kDa SA which was capable of eliciting only helper activity. We have now cleaved the 185‐kDa SA with cyanogen bromide, in an attempt to identify suppressor and contrasuppressor determinants. A 14‐kDa SA was separated from the cyanogen bromide digest and its ability to elicit T cell and B cell functional activities was tested in rhesus monkeys. Whereas the 185‐kDa SA (and 4‐kDa SA) elicited high serum anti‐SA antibodies and the CD4 cells showed an increase in DNA synthesis, this was not demonstrable with the 14‐kDa SA. However, the 14‐kDa SA, unlike the 185‐kDa SA, activated a significant proportion of CD4 and CD8 cells to bind the Viciu villosu lectin (VV) and this is a characteristic feature of contrasuppressor cells. We then studied the effect of sequential immunization of monkeys with the 14‐kDa SA, followed by the 185‐kDa SA. The results of this showed suppression of the CD4 proliferative response, in the presence of a normal antibody production. We suggest that the split tolerance between the T cell proliferative and B cell differentiating functions might be interpreted on the basis of suppressor CD8 cells inhibiting the CD4 proliferative phase and the W‐adherent CD8 cells contrasuppres‐sing B cell antibody formation.

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