Effect of splenectomy on the expression of regulatory T cell activity.
The effect of adult splenectomy on the expression of suppressor and amplifier T cell activity was examined with respect to the serum antibody response to Type III pneumococcal polysaccharide (SSS-III) by using a sensitive radioimmunoassay. Suppressor T cell activity, as measured by the degree of low-dose paralysis induced, was not impaired in the least by splenectomy; however, amplifier T cell activity was almost completely eliminated within 7 days after splenectomy. These findings indicate that suppressor T cell activity is not confined solely to the spleen, the major site of antibody synthesis after immunization with SSS-III, and that the spleen may be an important site for the generation and/or maintenance of amplifier T cell activity.
D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum / Q000494:pharmacology; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D006462:Hemolytic Plaque Technique; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D013156:Splenectomy; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial