Regulatory role of suppressor T cells in the expression of delayed-type hypersensitivity in mice. I. Transient appearance of suppressor T cells for the expression of delayed footpad reaction induced with lipid-conjugated lysozyme.
Delayed footpad reaction (FPR) to lysozyme (Lys) in mice was induced without antibody responses by lipid-conjugated lysozyme (D.Lys). This FPR was suppressed by priming s.c. with a high dose (10 mg) of Lys 2 weeks previously (unresponsiveness). Spleen cells from the unresponsive mice suppressed antigen-specifically FPR in mice previously immunized with D.Lys, and also suppressed passive transfer of FPR by D.Lys-immune lymphoid cells into normal mice. The suppressive activity of the spleen cells was abolished by treatment with anti-phi anti-serum and complement. The suppressor cells occurred also in the thymus of unresponsive mice. Unresponsiveness was induced in mice immediately after priming with Lys and persisted at least up to 7 weeks after the induction. In contrast, suppressor cells appeared only 2 weeks after induction of unresponsiveness in both the spleen and the thymus but were no longer detectable 3-7 weeks later, although donor mice remained fully unresponsive. These results suggest that antigen-specific suppressor T cells are involved in the regulation of the expression of FPR only for a definite period of time in unresponsive mice.
D000818:Animals; D000939:Epitopes; D005260:Female; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000276:immunology*; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D051379:Mice; D009113:Muramidase / Q000276:immunology; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors
D000939:Epitopes; D009113:Muramidase