Control of autoimmune responses induced with modified self antigens.
Our previous studies suggested the TNP-modified syngeneic red blood cells induced a humoral autoimmune response in mice with a defective T cell function but not in normal mice. This report describes the continuation of these studies in which we elucidated the auto-delayed-type hypersensitivity response of mice with a defective T cell function. The mice were immunized with syngeneic TNP-modified spleen cells and challenged 14 d later by injecting syngeneic nonmodified con A-stimulated spleen cells into the footpad. The DTH response was assessed 24 hr later. Adult thymectomized, x-irradiated (250 rad), and Cy-treated mice injected with syngeneic TNP-Sc generated a DTH response when subsequently challenged with syngeneic blast cells but not when challenged with allogeneic blast cells. In contrast, normal mice treated in a similar manner did not exhibit a significant DTH response. The auto-DTH response of x-irradiated mice injected with TNP-Sc was abrogated when they were simultaneously transplanted with syngeneic spleen cells or nylon wool-passed syngeneic spleen cells. If the transplanted splenocytes had been treated with anti-Thy 1 serum and complement, they failed to abrogate the auto-DTH response of the above-mentioned mice. These results suggest that suppressor cells are programmed to control the autoimmune response induced with modified self antigens.
D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000276:immunology; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008814:Mice, Inbred NZB; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009578:Nitrobenzenes / Q000276:immunology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology; D014301:Trinitrobenzenes / Q000276:immunology*
D000941:Antigens; D001323:Autoantibodies; D009578:Nitrobenzenes; D014301:Trinitrobenzenes