Abstract
The suppression of contact hypersensitivity (CHS) after a single exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation provides an excellent model system with which to study both the activation and the mode of action of suppressor T cells. Suppression of CHS after UV radiation is mediated by hapten-specific suppressor T cells (UVTs). These cells have a broad range of activity: CHS and antibody production in vivo and the generation of cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL) and T-cell proliferative responses in vitro are suppressed by UVTs. The present study is concerned with determining the target of UVTs. The UVTs could suppress the response to hapten-modified T-dependent antigens, such as trinitrophenyl (TNP)-modified sheep erythrocytes (TNP-SRBC) or TNP-conjugated bovine serum albumin (TNP-BSA), but had no suppressive effect on the response to a T-independent antigen, TNP-conjugated lipopolysaccharide (TNP-LPS). The UVTs also suppressed the generation of interleukin-2 (IL-2) in vitro. The suppression of CTL generation in vitro and CHS in vivo could be overcome by the addition of exogenous IL-2. These data suggest that UVTs suppress the immune response by affecting T-helper cell function.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 353-360 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Immunology |
Volume | 60 |
Issue number | 3 |
State | Published - 1987 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Immunology and Allergy
- Immunology