Specific helper T cell reactivity against autologous erythrocytes implies that self tolerance need not depend on clonal deletion.
Using a culture system which supports primary T cell proliferative responses to various antigens we have detected mouse red blood cell (RBC)-reactive T cells in lymphoid tissues from untreated mice. The release of significant amounts of interleukin 2 (IL2) indicates that T helper (or helper/inducer) cells are activated by stimulation with RBC. Upon restimulation in vitro these cells proliferate specifically against mouse RBC with the kinetics and magnitude characteristic of a secondary response. Since autologous RBC are tolerated in vivo in spite of the presence of such specifically reactive T helper cells, these findings imply that self tolerance, even to certain nonsequestered antigens, may depend largely on regulatory mechanisms rather than on clonal deletion or inactivation.
D000818:Animals; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002999:Clone Cells; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007700:Kinetics; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D010641:Phenotype; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
D001324:Autoantigens; D000939:Epitopes; D007376:Interleukin-2