Induction of suppressor T cells to dinitrofluorobenzene contact sensitivity by application of sensitizer through Langerhans cell-deficient skin. II. Kinetics of the induction of suppressor T cells.

Tolerance to dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) contact sensitivity (DNFB CS) appeared in C3H/HeN mice within 2 days after application of DNFB on Langerhans cell-deficient tail skin. A single painting on tail skin led to complete prevention of DNFB CS for at least 14 days. Spleen cells from tolerant mice could transfer the suppression to syngeneic recipients, while the cells treated in vitro with anti-Thy 1.2 lost their suppressive activities completely. From these facts, this tolerance might be due to active suppression caused by suppressor T cells. These suppressor T cells were antigen-specific, because recipients exhibited normal CS to picryl chloride. Furthermore, the suppressor T cells were demonstrated to be afferent blockers in nature and their precursors were sensitive to cyclophosphamide. Therefore, the suppressor T cells induced by DNFB percutaneously administered through epidermal Langerhans cell-deficient region were thought to be generated in the same or in a very similar suppressor pathway as the intravenously administered dinitrobenzene sulfonate (DNBSO3), a soluble reactive dinitrophenyl congener.