Dengue virus-induced thymus-derived suppressor cells in the spleen of mice.

Adoptive transfer of spleen cells obtained from mice given three weekly i.p. doses of dengue type 2 virus (DV) suppressed DV antigen-specific antibody secretion as detected by the Jerne plaque technique. This suppression was produced by non-glass-adherent cells but not by glass-adherent cells. Immune spleen cells depleted of macrophages by carbonyl iron treatment had higher suppressor activity. Immune spleen cell homogenate could transfer the activity equally well. The immune spleen cells were separated into T and B lymphocytes by a nylon wool column. B lymphocytes had no suppressor activity; almost all the suppressor activity was present in T lymphocytes. Thus, macrophages and B lymphocytes had no suppressor activity; it was mediated by T lymphocytes through soluble factors.