title: Immunosuppression of anti-sheep erythrocyte responses by glycerol teichoic acid immune complexes.
abstract: Sprague-Dawley rats which produce "naturally occurring" antibodies to glycerol teichoic acid (GTA) displayed immunosuppression of anti-sheep erythrocyte plaque-forming cell and serum antibody responses when a single dose of lipid-free GTA was administered 24 h before immunization. Such suppression was enhanced by administering GTA complexed with anti-GTA immunoglobulin G. Animals fed a GTA-free diet produced no anti-GTA immunoglobulins and failed to show GTA-mediated immunosuppression under similar experimental conditions. However, when those animals were given GTA-anti-GTA complexes, suppression was evident. The results suggested antigenic competition mediated by immune complex-activated suppressor T cells. Lipid-free GTA did not stimulate serum antibody responses under the experimental conditions employed.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000921:Antibody-Producing Cells / Q000276:immunology; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D004032:Diet; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D005990:Glycerol / Q000276:immunology*; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D051381:Rats; D013682:Teichoic Acids / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D013682:Teichoic Acids; D005990:Glycerol