T cell regulation of B cell activation. An antigen-mediated tripartite interaction of Ts cells, Th cells, and B cells is required for suppression.
To determine the requirements underlying the antigen specificity observed in T cell-mediated immune response suppression, cloned major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-restricted T suppressor (Ts) cells specific for keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) and cloned MHC-restricted T helper (Th) cells specific for fowl gamma-globulin (FGG) were employed to study the regulation of trinitrophenyl (TNP)-specific B cell responses. Neither antigen bridging between Ts cells and Th cells (FGG=KLH) nor bridging between Ts cells and B cells (TNP-KLH) was sufficient to allow suppression; a mixture of FGG=KLH and TNP-KLH was also insufficient for suppression. In contrast, suppression was induced by KLH-specific Ts cells only when suppressor determinants (KLH), helper determinants (FGG), and B cell determinants (TNP) were covalently linked on the same molecule (TMP-FGG)=(TNP-KLH) or TNP-(FGG=KLH)). These findings imply that a tripartite antigen-mediated interaction of Ts cells, Th cells, and responding B cells is necessary for the mediation of this antigen-specific suppression.
D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002999:Clone Cells / Q000276:immunology; D000939:Epitopes; D006183:H-2 Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D006433:Hemocyanins / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008211:Lymphocyte Cooperation; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*; D005719:gamma-Globulins / Q000276:immunology
D000941:Antigens; D000939:Epitopes; D006183:H-2 Antigens; D005719:gamma-Globulins; D006433:Hemocyanins; C032808:keyhole-limpet hemocyanin