Recognition of lysozyme by lymphocyte subsets.

Extensive studies with antisera from a variety of animals have failed to detect any cross-reactivity between egg white lysozyme and its reduced, S-carboxymethylated (CM-) derivative. In contrast, a number of studies addressing the specificity of T lymphocytes have revealed that these two forms of lysozyme cross-react rather extensively at that level. Preliminary attempts to eliminate this latter cross-reactivity by further denaturation and/or chemical modification have so far proven unsuccessful. In a second line of experimentation the response to CM-lysozyme of mice which are genetically unresponsive to native lysozyme was assessed and found deficient. The implications of these findings are discussed.