Autoreactive T cells in mercury-induced autoimmunity. Demonstration by limiting dilution analysis.
Mercuric chloride is responsible in Brown-Norway rats for an autoimmune disease that is autoregulated. Previous studies have shown that this agent induces T cell-dependent polyclonal B cell activation in these rats. Evidence has also been obtained for the existence of autoreactive T cells which play a role in the evolution of this process. In the present study, limiting dilution analysis was used to demonstrate that (a) frequent autoreactive T helper cells which proliferate in the presence of T cells from HgCl2-injected rats are present from day 4; (b) frequent auto-anti-Ia T helper cells which recognize normal B cells as well as B cells from HgCl2-injected rats appear from day 6; and (c) less frequent T suppressor cells which could play a role in autoregulation emerge from day 14.
Rossert
J
J
INSERM U 28, Hôpital Broussais, Paris, France.
Pelletier
L
L
Pasquier
R
R
Druet
P
P
D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002460:Cell Line; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008628:Mercury / Q000633:toxicity*; D051381:Rats; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors
D008628:Mercury