Monoclonal suppressor factor specific for lactate dehydrogenase B. I. Mechanism of interaction between the factor and its target cells.

Hybridomas secreting a monoclonal T suppressor-effector factor (TseF) were produced by fusion of a lactate dehydrogenase B (LDHB)-specific long-term T suppressor-effector (Tse) cell line with the BW5147 thymoma. A short exposure (4 h) to TseF completely suppresses the antigen-specific and A-restricted proliferation of LDHB-primed Lyt-1+2- [possibly helper (Th)] cells. The action of TseF on Th cells, as that of the Tse cells themselves, is antigen-specific and A-restricted. The interaction of TseF with Th cells involves two binding events, of which one occurs via antigen bridge, and the other represents the recognition of a factor-derived Ak-like moiety by the anti-Ak receptor of Th cells. The Ak-like moiety of the TseF carries the determinants that serve as restriction elements for antigen recognition by Th cells, and additional determinants demonstrable by T cell-specific monoclonal "anti-Ak" antibodies, however, it lacks serologically detectable determinants of the B cell-derived A alpha A beta class II Mhc molecules.