title: Activation of antigen-specific suppressor T cells by B cells from mice immunized with type III pneumococcal polysaccharide.
abstract: The transfer of B lymphocytes from mice immunized with type III pneumococcal polysaccharide (SSS-III) results in antigen-specific suppression of the antibody response of recipients immunized with SSS-III. Such suppression shares many features associated with low-dose paralysis, a phenomenon mediated by suppressor T cells; it reaches maximal levels 3 d after the transfer of viable or irradiated immune B cells and can be eliminated by the depletion of SSS-III-binding cells from spleen cell suspensions before transfer. In a two-step cell transfer experiment, purified T lymphocytes, isolated from recipients previously given immune B cells, caused suppression upon transfer to other mice immunized with SSS-III. Also, B-cell-induced suppression could be abrogated in a competitive manner by the infusion of amplifier T lymphocytes, as was previously demonstrated in the case of low-dose paralysis. These findings suggest that B cell surface components, presumably the idiotypic determinants of cell-associated antibody specific for SSS-III, are instrumental in activating suppressor T cells involved in regulating the magnitude of the antibody response to SSS-III.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000921:Antibody-Producing Cells / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D001666:Binding Sites, Antibody; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D000939:Epitopes; D005246:Feedback; D005260:Female; D006462:Hemolytic Plaque Technique; D007110:Immunity, Active; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000939:Epitopes; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; C026604:pneumococcal polysaccharide, type III