title: Induction of T helper 2 immunity to an immunodominant allopeptide.
abstract: Neonatal tolerance to alloantigens and autoantigens in mice is mediated by T helper (Th)2 immunity. If a strong and pure Th2 response could be engaged to alloantigens in adult mice, it might result in allograft tolerance. In an attempt to induce Th2 immunity in adults, we studied the T-cell response to peptide I-A beta(k)58-71 (I-Ap), a dominant indirect pathway determinant during rejection of B10.A skin by BALB/c mice. Our data show that the naturally occurring response to this peptide during rejection is Th1, consistent with the notion that Th1 immunity is central to destruction of the allograft. In contrast, vigorous and unipolar Th2-type immunity to this peptide can be readily induced by intraperitoneal immunization with incomplete Freund's adjuvant, a protocol previously thought to induce T-cell unresponsiveness. Thus, adjuvant can be used to Th2-guide the indirect pathway alloresponse in an effort to antagonize naturally occurring Th1 alloimmunity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: P V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Lehmann
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Matesic
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Benichou
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Heeger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000502:physiology; D007519:Isoantigens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D010455:Peptides / Q000276:immunology*; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000276:immunology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D007519:Isoantigens; D010455:Peptides