Antigen-induced T suppressor cells regulate the autoreactive T helper-B cell interaction.

The T suppressor (Ts) cell population that functions to regulate antigen-specific MHC-restricted T helper (Th)-B cell interactions also regulates the activation of B cells by cloned autoreactive Th cells. Activated Ts cells were generated by in vivo priming and restimulation in vitro with high concentrations of the specific priming antigen. Once generated, this Ts population inhibits the Th-dependent activation of primed B cells by both antigen-specific and autoreactive T cells in an antigen-nonspecific manner. This suppression requires the participation of both Lyt-1+2- and Lyt-1-2+ T cells. It was also demonstrated that accessory cells were required for the induction of Ts cells. Moreover, the generation of suppression was MHC-restricted and required the recognition by T cells of Ia antigens on accessory cells. These studies demonstrate that the same or a very similar Ts cell population can function to inhibit the activation of B cells by antigen-specific as well as autoreactive T cells.