Hapten-specific T cell responses to 4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenyl acetyl. XIV. Carrier requirement for suppressor cell induction.

The carrier requirements for the induction of helper and suppressor T (Ts) cells were compared. Although H-2-linked Ir genes control the development of helper T cells and hapten-specific B cells, they do not influence Ts3 generation. That is, GL phi nonresponder C57BL/6 mice can generate NP-specific Ts3 cells after priming with NP-GL phi. The Ts3 cells generated under these conditions are functionally and phenotypically identical to the NP-specific Ts3 cells previously characterized. Furthermore, these Ts3 populations can be specifically depleted with a monoclonal anti-idiotope antibody prepared against monoclonal anti-NP antibodies. By using related polymers, carrier effects on Ts3 induction were noted. NP-D-GL and NP-Ficoll failed to induce Ts3 cells, whereas NP-L-GL induced this suppressor subset. The data demonstrate that Ts3 induction is independent of the carrier requirements involved in helper T cell induction and is not dependent upon B cell priming. The implications of these results with regard to the mechanisms of Ts3 induction are discussed.