title: HgCl2-induced perturbation of the T cell network in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis. II. In vivo demonstration of the role of T suppressor and contrasuppressor cells.
abstract: In the companion paper (J. Rossert et al., Cell. Immunol. 137, 1991), we showed by using limiting dilution analysis that Lewis (LEW) rats injected with HgCl2 and immunized with myelin (LEWHg/MYE) exhibit anti-basic protein CD4+ T helper cells (Th), at least 10-fold more frequent CD8+ T suppressor cells (Ts), and T contrasuppressor cells (Tcs). These Tcs cells were shown to be CD4+ T cells adhering to Vicia villosa (VV) lectin and allowed Th cells to proliferate despite the presence of Ts cells. The CD8+ Ts cells might be responsible for the protection from experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) observed in about 70% of LEW rats injected with HgCl2. The concomitant presence of CD4+ Tcs cells might explain that 30% of the rats escaped this protection. The aim of this work is to demonstrate in vivo the roles of CD8+ Ts cells and Tcs cells in mercury-induced protection from EAE. It will be shown that LEWHg/MYE rats depleted of CD8+ cells as well as LEWHg/MYE rats transferred with VV lectin-adherent Tcs cells develop EAE. These data demonstrate that CD8+ Ts cells are responsible for HgCl2-induced protection and that Tcs cells are involved in the control of Ts cells in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U28, Hôpital Broussais, Paris, France.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pelletier
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rossert
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pasquier
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Villarroya
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Oriol
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Druet
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000276:immunology*; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008212:Lymphocyte Depletion; D008627:Mercuric Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D008627:Mercuric Chloride