REGULATION OF ANTIBODY-RESPONSE IN DIFFERENT IMMUNOGLOBULIN CLASSES .4. PROPERTIES AND FUNCTIONS OF IGE CLASS-SPECIFIC SUPPRESSOR FACTOR(S) RELEASED FROM DNP-MYCOBACTERIUM-PRIMED T CELLS

Abstract

Ig[immunoglobulin]E class-specific suppressor factors (IgE-TsF) released from DNP-Myc[dinitrophenyl-Mycobacterium] primed T cells showed their suppressor effect in an antigen nonspecific manner, although DNP-specific stimulation was required for their induction. The suppressor activity of IgE-TsF was absorbed with the alloantiserum directed to the subregions between I-A and I-E of the H-2 complex. IgE-TsF from BALB/c mice did not show their suppressor effect on the IgE response of C57BL/6J and vice versa. The suppressor activity of IgE-TsF was removed with a DNP-OA[ovalbumin] primed B [bone marrow-derived] lymphocyte population including an increased number of IgE-B cells, but not with T cells. Incubation of hapten-primed B cells with IgE-TsF for 3 h at 37.degree. C selectively abolished the anti-hapten IgE antibody response in the adoptive transfer experiment, indicating that the target cells of IgE-TsF were IgE-B cells.