Individual-specific (idiotypic) T-B cell interactions regulating the production of anti-2,4,6-trinitrophenyl antibody. II. Development of idiotype-specific helper and suppressor T cells within mice making an immune response.

The previous report demonstrated that serum and cells from CBA mice immunized with trinitrophenyl (TNP), when injected into normal, syngeneic "recipient" mice, induce the formation of apparently idiotype-specific suppressor cells and serum factors, and that such regulatory elements develop within the serum of the TNP-immunized animals themselves. In this report, it is indicated that regulator cells develop also within the spleens of TNP-keyhole limpet hemocyanin-immunized animals, and may in part be responsible for our earlier observation that T cells from TNP-immune CBA mice stimulate optimal antibody production in culture when paired with B cells from the same individual animal. While some evidence for individual-specific T helper cells was obtained, the poorer response of mismatched T and B cells could be attributed in part to Ly-2.2-bearing suppressor T cells. Overall, the results support the view that idiotype-related regulation is not confined to dominant-idiotype models but is also involved in heterogeneous anti-hapten antibody responses.