Epidermal I-J-bearing cells are responsible for transferable suppressor cell generation after immunization of mice with ultraviolet radiation-treated epidermal cells.

Subcutaneous immunization of mice with hapten-coupled, ultraviolet radiation (UVR)-treated epidermal cells (EC) results in a hyporesponsive delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response associated with the appearance of afferent-acting, hapten-specific T suppressor (Ts) cells. Depletion of I-J-bearing cells from the EC population prior to UVR-exposure and hapten coupling prevents the appearance of these Ts cells. However, non-UVR-treated EC depleted of I-J-bearing cells and hapten-coupled are capable of immunizing mice for a DTH response. Therefore, the set of I-J-bearing EC appears to be distinct from classic Langerhans cells. A novel set of I-J-bearing EC appears to be responsible for Ts activation after subcutaneous immunization with hapten-coupled UVR-treated EC.