The influence of hapten-conjugated isologous mouse gamma-globulin as a tolerogen on H-2 restricted cytotoxic effector cells.

Hapten-conjugated isologous mouse gamma-globulin (TNP-MGG) can induce specific unresponsiveness in spleen populations for primary antibody responses in vitro to both T-dependent (TNP-KLH) and T-independent (TNP-LPS) antigens. This was also tested simultaneously for its influence on spleen populations in the generation of cytotoxic effector cell populations to hapten-modified self. Unlike its effect on primary antibody responses (tolerogenic), TNP-MGG does not inhibit the generation of cytotoxic T cells against TNBS-treated syngeneic spleen cells. TNP-MGG was also unable to act as an immunogen in generating cytotoxic effectors against TNBS-treated spleen cells. These data show that although TNP-MGG has a tolerogenic effect on B lymphocytes (and possibly helper T lymphocytes) it does not block the generation of killer T lymphocytes directed against the hapten-modified spleen cells. A different mechanism of tolerance induction for TNP-MGG compared to hapten-modified syngeneic murine spleen is therefore suggested.