Mechanisms of regulation of cell-mediated immunity. VI. Antigen density dependence of the induction of genetically restricted suppressor cells.

We have investigated the relationship of antigen density on cell surfaces to the induction of genetically restricted suppressor T cells (Ts). It was found that Ts able to suppress the development of hapten-specific contact sensitivity were induced by the i.v. inoculation of trinitrobenzene sulfonate (TNBS) hapten-coupled cells. The Ts induced by this technique were found to be gentically unrestricted in terms of generation or expression when 10 mM TNBS were used to prepare the hapten-coupled cells. Transferable suppression could be obtained by 10 mM coupled allogeneic cells or, alternatively, TNP-coupled Ia- syngeneic erythrocytes or even H-2-negative syngeneic tumor cells. However, 1 mM TNBS-derivatized hapten-coupled cells induced Ts that were able to suppress only recipients syngeneic with the tolerogen. The significance of these findings to our understanding of the induction and expression of Ts and the triggering signals that are necessary for their activation are discussed.