Adoptive transfer of suppression of the autoimmune response to rat male accessory glands: characterization of the suppressor cells.
We have examined the mechanism of suppression of autoimmunity to rat male accessory glands (RAG) by T suppressor cells. This suppression was accomplished by transfer to syngeneic rats of spleen mononuclear (SpM) cells from rats rendered unresponsive by pretreatment with low doses of a purified fraction of RAG (containing the autoantigen). The experiments demonstrated that the suppressor cells that act on the inducer phase of the suppression are cyclophosphamide (Cy) sensitive and that they can be positively selected on antigen-coated plates. On the other hand, the inducer phase T suppressor cells present on spleens coming from antigen-pretreated rats did not suppress the autoimmune response in normal recipients that had been irradiated (850 rad 137Cs) just prior to receiving the cells or injected with Cy 14 days after transfer. The results indicate that the regulation of immune response to the autoantigen of RAG is complex and that it involves the interaction of many cell types.
D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D001324:Autoantigens; D005260:Female; D005837:Genitalia, Male / Q000276:immunology*; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*
D001323:Autoantibodies; D001324:Autoantigens