Long-lasting functional unresponsiveness induced by a milk-transmitted Mls-1a-like superantigen.
We have recently shown (Piazzon et al. (1994) J. Immunol. 153, 1553) that foster-nursing of BALB/c mice on F1 Mls-1bxa mothers induce the progressive deletion of V beta 6+ and 8.1+ T cells in 50% of the mice. Preceding clonal deletion, a state of functional inactivation of CD4+ T cells to Mls-1a and anti-V beta 6 antibodies was detected in young mice. In the present paper we show that foster-nursing of BALB/c mice on (BALB/cxAKR)FI mothers is able to induce alterations in T cell reactivity in the non-deletor mice. Lymph node cells from foster-nursed mice show a decreased proliferative level against anti-V beta 6 antibodies and a diminished response in MLR and in CTL assays. The proliferative responses to either OVA or Con-A are also reduced. This state of functional inactivation is detected even in 6-month-old foster-nursed mice. Thus, the transmission through milk of the Mls-1a-like superantigen correlates in the non-deletor mice with a long-lasting state of functional inactivation and a decreased immune reactivity.
Goldman
A
A
Division Medicina Experimental, Instituto de Investigaciones Hematológicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Buggiano
V
V
Torello
S
S
Nepomnaschy
I
I
Déroche
A
A
Piazzon
I
I
D000818:Animals; D000833:Animals, Suckling / Q000276:immunology; D017635:Clonal Anergy / Q000502:physiology*; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D005260:Female; D007774:Lactation / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D051379:Mice; D008806:Mice, Inbred AKR; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D016747:Minor Lymphocyte Stimulatory Antigens / Q000502:physiology*; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000494:pharmacology; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D018089:Superantigens / Q000502:physiology*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
D016747:Minor Lymphocyte Stimulatory Antigens; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D018089:Superantigens; D003208:Concanavalin A; D010047:Ovalbumin