Sex differences in regulation of contact sensitivity reaction in mice. 1. Influence of sex on the generation of contrasuppressor and afferent suppressor cells.

It is well known that humoral and cell-mediated immune responses are better in females than in males. Females also develop autoimmunity more easily than males. Contact sensitivity, one of the forms of cell-mediated immunity, is controlled at the afferent and efferent phases by complex interactions of regulatory T cells. Our present experiments indicate that T suppressor afferent (Ts-aff) and T contrasuppressor cells (Tcs) are generated in the mouse in a sex-dependent fashion. These two types of regulatory cells are induced by antigen-antibody complexes containing various immunoglobulin isotypes. Females require fewer antigen (Ag)-IgG1 complexes to produce Tcs cells, but more Tcs cells after antigenic stimulation in females tips the balance toward better immune responsiveness. It remains to be established whether the peculiarities in generation of regulatory cells in female mice are relevant to the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases which predominantly affect females.