Immunological unresponsiveness of self-recognizing B lymphocytes to the PBA property of a soluble T cell factor.

Spleen cells cultured in the presence of Con A became activated to polyclonal anti-body synthesis. This effect was found to be mediated by a polyclonal factor released by the activated T cells. Such a factor, contrary to any other polyclonal B cell activator, so far tested, failed to induce resting B cells to synthetize antibodies capable of lysing autologous albumin coupled SRBC. The Unresponsiveness was found to be specific since Con A activated spleen cells were capable of lysing heterologous albumin and HGG coupled SRBC. Moreover, neither active suppressor cells, nor soluble suppressor factors seem to be involved in the lack of response to autologous antigens. It is concluded that the clones of B cells carrying the polyclonal receptor for the T factor and Ig receptors for self are eliminated or functionally inactivated. The implication of these findings for the mechanism of self-non-self discrimination are discussed in relation to the mechanism of immunocyte triggering.