Cell surface antigens and other characteristics of T cells regulating the antibody response to type III pneumococcal polysaccharide

The administration of a subimmunogenic dose of type III pneumococcal polysaccharide (SSS-III) produces an antigen-specific T cell-dependent phenomenon termed low-dose paralysis (immunologic unresponsiveness). This form of unresponsiveness can be transferred by spleen cells obtained 5 to 24 hr after priming, and the suppressive activity of the transferred cells is abolished by prior treatment with monoclonal anti-Lyt-2 and anti-I-J antibody in the presence of complement, indicating that suppression is mediated by a distinct subset of T cells (suppressor T cells). If primed spleen cells are transferred 24 to 72 hr after immunization with SSS-III, however, the resulting antibody response of immunized recipients is enhanced. Greater enhancement is noted when transferred cells, pretreated with monoclonal anti-Lyt-2 antibody plus complement to remove suppressor T cells, are used; such enhancement is attributed to amplifier T cells. These findings indicate suppressor T cells regulate the antibody response to SSS-III by influencing the expansion of SSS-III-specific clones of B cells as well as the expression of amplifier T cell activity; the latter causes B cells to proliferate further in response to SSS-III.     

Production of soluble suppressor factor by spleen cells from mice immunized with type III pneumococcal polysaccharide

Supernatant fluid (SF) derived from spleen cell cultures, obtained from mice 16 hr after immunization with 0.5 microgram of Type III pneumococcal polysaccharide (SSS-III), suppressed the antibody response when SF was given (i.v.) 3 hr before immunization with SSS-III. Such suppression was antigen specific and could be reproduced by SF derived from cultures of T cells from mice immunized with SSS-III (0.5 microgram) or by SF derived from cultures of spleen cells from mice primed with a subimmunogenic dose of SSS-III (0.005 microgram). Adsorption of SF with SSS-III covalently bound to a Sepharose 4B column did not alter the ability of SF to suppress the SSS-III-specific antibody response. However, adsorption of SF with Ig+ (B) cells from mice immunized with 0.5 microgram SSS-III completely removed the suppressive activity. Significant (p less than 0.05) suppression of the antibody response was observed only when SF was administered (i.v.) 24 hr before to 24 hr after immunization with 0.5 microgram of SSS-III. These results suggest that suppressor T cells generated in response to SSS-III function by releasing a soluble factor(s) that binds to determinants on B cells rather than antigen; this soluble factor(s) acts directly on antigen-stimulated B cells or inhibits the induction of amplifier T cells.     

Effect of concanavalin A on lymphocyte interactions involved in the antibody response to type III pneumococcal polysaccharide. II. Ability of suppressor T cells to act on both B cells and amplified T cells to limit the magnitude of the antibody response.

When administered 2 days after immunization with 0.5 microgram Type III pneumococcal polysaccharide (SSS-III), the T lymphocyte mitogen concanavalin A (Con A) stimulates a 2.6-to 7-fold enhancement of the plaque-forming cells (PFC) response to SSS-III in vivo. This enhancement requires the presence of amplified T cells, which act by driving PFC or their precursors to extra rounds of proliferation. The extra proliferation that can be stimulated by Con A is not seen in the normal primary response to SSS-III; but treatment with anti-lymphocyte serum (ALS) to remove suppressor T cells will permit the additional proliferation to occur. This indicates that in the primary response to SSS-III, suppressor T cells act on amplifier T cells to limit the magnitude of the antibody response. Only suppression of B cells can account for the further suppression induced by Con A given at the time of immunization or by low-dose paralysis of the SSS-III response. The relatively late development of amplified activity compared to suppressor activity appears to account for the absence of amplifier activity after primary immunization with SSS-III. It is apparent that one can explain the regulatory effects observed during the development of an immune response to SSS-III only by considering both T cell- B cell and T cell- T cell interactions, together with the temporal relationships involved in those interactions.     

Characteristics of amplifier T cells involved in the antibody response to the capsular polysaccharide of type III Streptococcus pneumoniae

Amplifier T cell activity can be transferred by spleen cells harvested 72 hr after priming with type III pneumococcal polysaccharide (SSS-III) and can be abolished by treating the transferred cells with monoclonal anti-Lyt-1, or anti-Thy-1 antibodies in the presence of complement; thus, amplifier cells represent a distinct subpopulation of T cells. Amplifier T cells were found to be sensitive to irradiation but not to treatment with cyclophosphamide. When amplifier cells were transferred to athymic nude (nu/nu) mice, the enhancement obtained was much greater than that produced in thymus-bearing (nu/+) mice; this is presumably due to the lack of suppressor T cell activity in nu/nu mice that enables amplifier T cell activity to be expressed more fully. Amplifier T cells also were found to be present in peripheral blood; these amplifier T cells were Lyt-2- in phenotype. Although the induction and activation of amplifier T cells appear to be antigen-specific, the product made by amplifier T cells may not be antigen specific in its mode of action. Because amplifier T cells can be induced and activated by exposure to immune B cells, specificity is presumably due in whole or in part to the ability of amplifier T cells to recognize the idiotypic determinants of B cell-associated antibody specific for SSS-III.     

Regulation of the antibody response to type III pneumococcal polysaccharide. V. Ontogeny of factors influencing the magnitude of the plaque-forming cell response.

Mice of different ages were evaluated with respect to their ability to give a plaque-forming cell (PFC) response to Type III pneumococcal polysaccharide (SSSIII), as well as the degree of amplifier and suppressor thymus-derived(T) cell activity present. Although the magnitude of the PFC response to an optimally immunogenic dose of SSS-III for 2-and 3-week old mice was only 7% and 14%, respectively, of that produced by adult (8-week old) mice, values comparable to those of adult animals were attained by 4 weeks of age; no significant changes in the ability to respond to SSS-III occurred thereafter. Amplifier T cell activity, which was minimal at 2 to 4 weeks of age, matured slowly and did not reach a maximum until 8 to 10 weeks of age. By contrast, suppressor T cell activity appeared to be fully developed at least as early as 2 weeks of age; here, the inhibitory effects produced could by abrogated by depletion of T cells, indicating that the unresponsiveneness induced by such cells does not result in the depletion ot irreversible inactivation of B cells capable of responding to SSS-III. These findings suggest that the inhibitory effects of suppressor T cells are predominant in young mice and that such cells may play an important role in determining the ease with which unresponsiveness is induced in neonates, and in the prevention of autoimmune disease. Also, studies conducted with adult-thymectomized mice showed that both amplifier and suppressor T cells, once seeded to the periphery, are stable and do not depend upon the presence of intact thymus for the expression or renewal of their activity.     

The role of antigen in the activation of regulatory T cells by immune B cells

The transfer of B cells from mice immunized with Type III pneumococcal polysaccharide (SSS-III) results in the activation of suppressor and amplifier T cells that control the magnitude of the antibody response in recipient mice, immunized subsequently with SSS-III. Prior treatment of transferred B cells with an excess of enzyme (polysaccharide depolymerase) capable of hydrolyzing SSS-III, does not alter the capacity of these cells to activate regulatory T cells. These findings indicate that the activation of regulatory T cells by immune B cells is not mediated by residual antigen on the surface of transferred cells.     

Selective sensitivity to hydrocortisone of regulatory functions that determine the magnitude of the antibody response to type III pneumococcal polysaccharide.

Previous studies on the basis for the immunosuppressive potential of adrenal corticosteroids have stressed that the effects of these agents on immune functions depend on the animal species being considered, as well as the subpopulations of lymphocytes involved in the expression of immune functions examined. In the present work, we have evaluated the effect of a single dose of hydrocortisone on three different immunoregulatory functions that can influence the magnitude of an antibody response to Type III pneumococcal polysaccharide (SSS-III) in mice; these functions include suppressor, amplifier, and helper activity that are dependent upon the presence of distinct subpopulations of thymus-derived (T) cells. The results obtained show that a single injection of a relatively large dose of hydrocortisone, when given at the time of priming with carrier, eliminated all evidence of carrier-specific helper T cell activity; hydrocortisone was also found to eliminate a significant amount of helper T cell activity when given after such activity had been generated. But, under the same experimental conditions, suppressor and amplifier T cell activities were unaffected, even in this steroid-sensitive species. Such selective sensitivity may account for some of the immunosuppressive potency of steroids.     

Neonatal infection with mouse thymic virus: effects on cells regulating the antibody response to type III pneumococcal polysaccharide.

Mice infected neonatally with mouse thymic virus (TA) were evaluated at different ages with respect to their ability to give a plaque-forming cell (PFC) response to type III pneumococcal polysaccharide (SSS-III), as well as the degree of amplifier and suppressor thymus-derived (T) cell activity present. B cell activity matured rapidly from 2 to 4 weeks of age and was not affected by TA infection. Amplifier T cell activity matured progressively over the first 8 weeks of life and was transiently suppressed in TA-infected mice at 4 weeks of age. Suppressor T cell activity measured at 2,4, and 6 weeks of age was unaffected by TA. The findings suggest that TA is highly tropic for T cells and has selective effects on subpopulations of T cells.     

Two defects in old New Zealand Black mice are involved in the loss of low-dose paralysis to type III pneumococcal polysaccharide

Treatment of normal mice with a subimmunogenic dose of type III pneumococcal polysaccharide (SSS-III) results in the development of an antigen-specific state of unresponsiveness termed low-dose paralysis. This unresponsiveness is mediated by T suppressor cells and can be transferred by Lyt-2+ T cells, but not by L3T4+ T cells, obtained 18 hr after priming. As autoimmune New Zealand Black (NZB) mice age, there is a progressive decrease in low-dose paralysis to SSS-III. The defect in older NZB mice resulting in decreased suppressive activity was investigated by transferring primed Lyt-2+ T cells from young into old mice, and vice versa. Enlarged Lyt-2+ T cells from old NZB mice could not suppress the SSS-III response of young recipients. However, Lyt-2+ T cells of normal cell size were efficient in inhibiting the antibody response upon transfer. Primed Lyt-2+ T cells from young NZB mice did not affect the response of old recipients, but effectively suppressed the response of young mice. These results suggest that there are two defects involved in the decline of low-dose paralysis to SSS-III in aging NZB mice: Enlarged Lyt-2+ T cells may lose their ability to function as mediators of suppression; and B cells may become resistant to T cell-mediated suppression.     

Kinetics of the antibody response to type III pneumococcal polysaccharide (SSS-III). I. Use of 125I-labeled SSS-III to study serum antibody levels, as well as the distribution and excretion of antigen after immunization.

A simple method was described for the preparation of 125I-labeled type III neumococcal polysaccharide (SSS-III) with a high specific radioactivity which retained the physical and immunologic properties of native SSS-III. SSS-III was used to study the serum and tissue levels of antigen, as well as its excretion, after i.p. injection. When an optimally immunogenic dose (0.5 mug) of antigen was given, greater than 90% of the injected antigen was excreted during the first 3 days after injection; however, after day 3, the SSS-III which remained in each mouse was firmly bound to various tissues, and less than 5 ng SSS-III was released into the circulation daily. SSS-III was also used in a Farr test to measure serum antibody levels; the kinetics for the appearance of PFC/spleen and serum antibody levels were measured at 24-hr intervals after immunization with 0.5 mug of antigen. Maximum PFC/spleen were observed on day 4 after immunization whereas the peak serum antibody level was seen on day 5. The decay of serum antibody level from its maximum value was much slower than that of the PFC/spleen. The data describing the distribution of SSS-III in vivo and the measurement of serum antibody levels indicated that treadmill neutralization was not a factor in determining the serum antibody levels after immunization with an optimally immunogenic dose of SSS-III.     

Generation of low-dose paralysis in the absence of the ability to secrete antibody.

(CBA/N female x BALB/c male)F1 male mice carry an X-linked defect, originating from CBA/N mice, which renders them unable to generate an antibody response to SSS-III. Histocompatible (BALB/c female x CBA/N male) reciprocal F1 male hybrids do not carry the X-linked defect and therefore generate a readily detectable PFC response to SSS-III, which can be adoptively transferred into nonresponding reciprocal F1 male mice. In the present work, we show that this adoptive response could be inhibited in recipient (CBA/N female x BALB/c male)F1 male nonresponding mice in which low dose paralysis had been induced. Evidence is presented which indicates that such suppression is of host rather than donor cell origin. The capacity to develop low-dose paralysis, a phenomenon that is antigen specific and has been attributed to the action of suppressor T cells, indicates that nonresponding (CBA/N female x BALB/c male) F1 males (and presumably the CBA/N progenitor strain) have the ability to recognize this antigen. Furthermore, since these animals fail to make a serum antibody response to SSS-III, the signal that activates suppressor T cells cannot be circulating antibody or antigen-antibody complexes. These findings are most consistent with the view that low-dose paralysis of the response to SSS-III is not dependent on antibody-mediated feedback inhibition; rather, it is an active process mediated by suppressor T cells.     

Novel mechanisms of specific suppression of anti-hapten antibody response mediated by monoclonal anti-carrier antibody

The cellular mechanisms of the antibody-induced suppression of immune responses were analyzed in the keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) system. Some of the monoclonal anti-KLH antibodies, like KLH-specific suppressor T cell factor (KLH-TsF), were demonstrated to suppress the anti-2,4-dinitrophenyl IgG but not IgM plaque-forming cell responses in a KLH-specific and H-2-restricted manner. The anti-KLH antibodies with suppressive activity reacted with, and in turn, stimulated the suppressor hybridoma (34S-281) with the anti-idiotypic receptor complementary to the idiotypic KLH-TsF of the inducer type. Moreover, because the suppressive activity of the anti-KLH antibody was completely abolished by the treatment of responding spleen cells with anti-Lyt-2 and complement, it was apparent that the suppressive antibody activated suppressor T cell pathways. The isotype or affinity of antibodies is not related to the suppressive activity, because suppressive and nonsuppressive antibodies possess a similar affinity belonging to the same Ig isotypes. It also has been demonstrated that the Fc portion is not the functional site, because the F(ab')2 fragment still has the activity. The antibody specificity is found to be important for determining whether the antibody is suppressive or not. In fact, anti-KLH 26, but not other antibodies without activity, recognizes the particular KLH epitope seen by KLH-TsF, and exclusively interacts with the anti-idiotypic suppressor T cells. Thus, the anti-idiotypic suppressor T cell receives signals both from the suppressive anti-KLH antibody and from KLH-TsF, and transmits the antibody-induced suppressor signals to the effector-suppressor pathway. The size of the repertoire of anti-idiotypic suppressor T cells involved in the suppression seems to be very limited, because only four out of 120 monoclonal anti-KLH antibodies were found to have suppressor activity. The possible mechanisms of the cell interaction mediated by the suppressive antibody are discussed.     

Effect of concanavalin A on lymphocyte interactions involved in the antibody response to type III pneumococcal polysaccharide I. Comparison of the suppression induced by con A and low dose paralysis.

Concanavalin A (Con A) administered at the time of immunization induces suppression of the in vivo splenic plaque-forming cell (PFC) response to type III pneumococcal polysaccharide (SSS-III). As with low dose paralysis of the PFC response to SSS-III, Con A-induced suppression could not be demonstrated in congenitally athymic (nu/nu) mice and could be eliminated partially by treatment with anti-lymphocyte serum (ALS). The kinetics for Con A-induced suppression paralleled those for low dose paralysis of the antibody response to SSS-III. These findings support the view that Con A-induced suppression is produced in vivo by suppressor T cells and that this form of suppression shares with low dose paralysis a common pathway through which suppression is mediated.     

Sensitivity of amplifier T cells involved in the antibody response to type III pneumococcal polysaccharide to anti-lymphocyte serum.

Amplifier T cells responsible for enhancement of the antibody response to type III pneumococcal polysaccharide have been shown to be resistant to the effects of antilymphocyte serum (ALS) given at the time of immunization, a treatment that eliminates suppressor T cell activity. The resistance of amplifier T cells to ALS can be attributed to the fact that their activity develops after that of suppressor T cells. ALS given 1 or 2 days after immunization does abrogate amplifier T cell activity, independent of the mode by which that activity is elicited. The data emphasize the importance of kinetic considerations in understanding the effects produced by immunologically active agents such as ALS.     

Requirements for activation of contrasuppressor T cells by type III pneumococcal polysaccharide

Either S3-coupled spleen cells (S3-SC) or soluble S3 activates two populations of regulatory T cells, T suppressor cells (Ts) and contrasuppressor T cells (Tcs). The latter cells function to mask the activity of Ts in unfractionated T cell populations, so that Ts can be detected only after removal of Tcs. Activation of Tcs by S3 may be required for induction of an antibody response to S3. This is suggested by the findings that Tcs are activated only by immunogenic doses of S3, that Tcs are not detectable in the spleens of mice tolerant to S3, and that (CBA/N X BALB/c)F1 male (xid) mice, which are genetically unresponsive to S3, do not develop Tcs after immunization with S3. Moreover, the kinetics of activation of Tcs by S3 closely parallels the kinetics of the antibody response to S3. Tcs have no detectable activity in the absence of Ts, indicating that these cells do not function as amplifier or helper T cells.     

Detection of the dominant expression of the TEPC-15 idiotypic determinant(s) on phosphorylcholine-specific suppressor T lymphocytes in vitro

Phosphorylcholine-(PC) specific suppressor T lymphocytes, induced by immunization with PC-coupled syngeneic spleen cells and capable of suppressing antibody production in an in vitro system, were successfully obtained by removal of a PC-nonspecific, i.e., diazo-phenylstructure-directed, suppressor cell population using an immunoadsorbent column coupling an unrelated hapten with a diazo phenyl structure such as azobenzene arsonate (ABA). Column-purified PC-specific suppressor T cell activity was completely abrogated by treatment of the cells with anti-TEPC-15 (T-15) anti-idiotypic antibody and complement, or by the continuous presence of that antibody in the culture, whereas nonpurified suppressor cell activity was resistant to such treatment. Thus, the column-purified PC-specific suppressor T lymphocytes in BALB/c mice have a very homogeneous T-15 idiotypic determinant(s) on their functional receptors for antigen similar to those present on PC-specific antibody and/or B lymphocytes. Because of these results, we envision the growing importance of analysis of the fine specificity of the idiotype repertoire of T lymphocytes after purification of a hapten-specific population.     

Transferred B cells from autoimmune NZB/N mice fail to activate T suppressor cells

T-cell-mediated suppression of the antibody response of autoimmune NZB/N mice to Type III pneumococcal polysaccharide (SSS-III) can readily be induced in situ by priming with a subimmunogenic dose of SSS-III; however, the transfer of either "young" (8 weeks old) or "old" (42 weeks old) SSS-III-primed B cells, which activates suppressor T cells in normal BALB/cByJ mice, fails to induce suppression of the antibody response in recipient NZB/N mice, regardless of the number of cells transferred or the time interval between transfer and immunization. Transfer of 51Cr-labeled B cells demonstrated that syngeneic primed B cells home to the spleens of NZB/N mice in somewhat lower numbers than in BALB/cByJ mice, although the differences observed may not be sufficient to explain the complete absence of activation of suppressor T cells. These findings suggest that B cells from autoimmune NZB/N mice are unable to activate T suppressor cells upon transfer; this disorder in a normal regulatory mechanism may be important in the pathogenesis of disease.     

Contact sensitivity to picryl chloride: the occurrence of B suppressor cells in the lymph nodes and spleen of immunized mice.

Mice were immunized for contact sensitivity and antibody production by painting the skin with picryl chloride. Lymph node and spleen cells taken 4 days later transferred contact sensitivity. However, cells taken at 7–8 days failed to transfer but were able to block the transfer by 4 day immune cells. These suppressor cells occurred in the regional lymph nodes, spleen and thymus. The suppressor activity of lymph node and spleen cells was due to B cells as shown by the effect of anti-θ serum and complement, nylon wool filtration and separation of EAC positive and negative cells by centrifugation on a discontinuous gradient. The transfer of fractions rich or poor in macrophages showed that the suppressor cell in the transferred population was not a macrophage. Separation using EAC rosettes suggested that B cells were responsible for the suppressor activity in the thymus.T cells isolated from the lymph nodes and spleen 7–8 days after immunization transferred contact sensitivity although the initial population was inactive. This indicates that passive transfer cells are present in the regional lymph nodes and spleen at later times after immunization but cannot be demonstrated because of the presence of suppressor B cells. However, no passive transfer cells were found in the thymus. The production of B suppressor cells required little or no T cell help and following immunization the spleens of reconstituted (B) mice were at least as active as control cells in causing suppression. There are several different suppressor cells which act in the picryl system and the B suppressor cells in immunized mice described here are distinct from the T suppressor cells in mice injected with picryl sulphonic acid.     

Fractionation of lymphocyte subpopulations which regulate mixed lymphocyte reactions.

Four days after injection of allogeneic lymphocytes BALB/c splenic T cells suppress proliferation of syngeneic cells in mixed lymphocyte reactions (MLR). Conversely, lymph node cells from the same mice amplify MLR responses. To further characterize these functional subpopulations, alloantigen-primed lymphocyte suspensions from both organs were fractionated by velocity sedimentation at unit-gravity. After fractionation MLR suppressor cells from spleens localized exclusively in rapidlly sedimenting fractions of large cells. MLR suppressor activity of cells from these fractions, as well as that of unfractionated spleen cell suspensions, was abolished by treatment with anti-Thy-1.2 serum and complement. Spleen cell fractions of similar sedimentation velocity also secreted a soluble MLR suppressor into culture supernatants. Although inhibitory of MLR, spleen cells of rapid sedimentation velocity did not suppress responses to T cell mitogens. In marked contrast with the effects of spleen cells, large 4-day-alloantigen-primed lymph node cells had no suppressive activity in MLR. MLR amplifier cells of uncertain derivation were found in fractions of medium sedimentation velocity from both spleens and lymph nodes. Fractionation of alloantigen-primed lymph node cell suspensions did reveal, however, a subpopulation of small cells with MLR suppressor acitivty which was unaffected by treatment with anti-Thy-1 serum and complement. The data thus indicate that large alloantigen-activated lymphocytes are not intrinsically suppressive nor are cells which suppress MLR necessarily large. We consequently conclude that regulation of MLR responses by alloantigen-primed lymphocytes involves a complex interaction between distinct functional subpopulations of cells which are separable both by physical and biologic properties.     

Cell-associated IgM, but not IgD or I-A/E, is important in the activation of suppressor T cells by antigen-primed B cells

The ability of transferred antigen-primed immune B cells to induce T cell-mediated suppression of the antibody response to Type III pneumococcal polysaccharide (SSS-III) could be blocked or eliminated by prior treatment of B cells with F(ab')2 anti-Ig or anti-IgM antibodies; however, F(ab')2 anti-IgD antibodies, or M5/114 (monoclonal anti-I-A/E antibody), had no effect on activation of suppression by SSS-III-primed B cells. Thus, cell-associated IgM antibody plays an important role in the activation of suppressor T cells during the antibody response to SSS-III.