Down-regulation of suppressor cell induction.

A unidirectional cascade of cell interactions has been described previously that involves at least three distinct populations of suppressor T cells (Ts) that interact in appropriate succession to mediate suppression of delayed hypersensitivity responses to the 4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenylacetyl hapten (NP). The present work focuses on the potential bidirectional effects of one suppressor factor and how it can regulate the homeostatic mechanisms that maintain this suppressor cell cascade. Specifically, the effects of prior administration of mice with a transducer suppressor factor (TsF2) on the generation of NP-specific TS1 suppressor cells were evaluated. It was observed that the TSF2 given 2-14 days prior to administration of the tolerogen (NP-coupled splenic-adherent cells) interfered with the development of inducer TS1 suppressor cells. This down-regulation of suppressor cell induction is mediated by a population of cells that have the following characteristics: NP-binding, Lyt-1+2-, L3T4+, I-J+, and Vicia villosa (VV)-adherent T cells (for convenience these cells are termed anti-suppressor cells). Furthermore, there are genetic restrictions (both H-2 and IgH) between TSF2 and host which control the generation of anti-suppressor cells. The results suggest that TSF2 may have a role in homeostatic mechanisms that regulate the NP-specific suppressor cell cascade. The relationship of anti-suppressor and contra-suppressor cells is discussed.