Infection of mice with Newcastle disease virus inhibits the T suppressor afferent cell circuit which regulates contact sensitivity to picryl chloride.

The interaction between Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and the suppressor cell circuit which regulates the induction phase of contact sensitivity reaction to picryl chloride (Pcl) was investigated. NDV infection impairs the activity of the T suppressor afferent cells (Ts-aff) which inhibit DNA synthesis in the draining lymph nodes of mice specifically sensitized with Pcl and the development of contact sensitivity. The inhibitory effect of NDV was evident when the virus was administered up to 2 days before or at the same time as the injection of picrylsulfonic acid; this effect required infectious virus, as NDV inactivated by ultraviolet irradiation failed to inhibit Ts-aff activity. Taken together with the previous finding that the T suppressor efferent cell is unaffected by NDV, the present results support the view that contact sensitivity reaction to picryl chloride is regulated by two distinct T-suppressor-cell circuits.