Induction and characterization of splenic suppressor cells directed to natural killer cells in Japanese quails.
Intravenous inoculation of chicken amniotic fluid (ChAmF) markedly reduced natural killer (NK) cell activity of spleen cells from Japanese quails. The reduction of NK activity was mediated by non-adherent thymus-dependent lymphoid cells which were resistant to treatment with anti-immunoglobulin serum and sensitive to treatment with anti-thymocyte serum in the presence of complement. The suppressing activity was selectively directed to NK cells, since Rous sarcoma virus-specific cytotoxicity or hemagglutinating antibody production against sheep erythrocytes was not suppressed in ChAmF-treated quails. Spleen cells from normal 1-week-old quails had similar characteristics to those from ChAmF-treated 4-week-old quails, lacking NK activity and exhibiting suppressive effect on NK activity, and were also shown to be thymus-dependent. Biological significance of the presence of NK cells and their suppressor cells is discussed in relation to embryonic development and tumor-surveillance mechanism.
D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D002642:Chick Embryo; D003370:Coturnix; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*