MODULATION OF SUPRESSOR MECHANISMS IN ALLERGIC CONTACT-DERMATITIS .2. INHIBITION OF SUPRESSOR LYMPHOCYTES-T BY CORYNEBACTERIUM-PARVUM

[摘要] Pretreatment of BALB/c mice with C. parvum [P. acnes] inhibited the induction of tolerance to the contact sensitizing agent 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene induced by i.v. injection of DNBSO3 [2,4-dinitrobenzenesulfonic acid]. The suppressive effect on tolerance induction was analyzed by adoptive transfer experiments. Injection of C. parvum i.p. (0.7-2.8 mg/mouse), before injection of the tolergen, inhibited the generation of T-suppressor cells as shown by transfer of spleen cells from the tolerized donor to naive recipients. Pretreatment of the recipients of the suppressor T-cells from tolerized animals with C. parvum also inhibited the function of these cells in the recipient animals. Time-kinetic experiments suggested that more than 1 mechanism appeared to be responsible for the tolerance induced by DNBSO3. C. parvum (probably via activated macrophages) suppressed tolerance which is mediated by T-suppressor lymphocytes. These may, similarly as T-helper cells, be modulated by an activated monocytic-phagocytic system.