T cell regulation of b cell activation. Cloned Lyt-1+2-T suppressor cells inhibit the major histocompatibility complex-restricted interaction of T helper cells with B cells and/or accessory cells.

The present studies have identified cloned Lyt-1+2- T suppressor (Ts) cells that are both antigen specific and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) restricted in their activation requirements and that function to regulate the MHC-restricted activation of B cells by T helper (Th) cells. ParentA-restricted Ts clones suppressed, in antigen-specific fashion, the responses generated by (A X B)F1 Th cells cooperating with parentA (B plus accessory) cells, but did not suppress responses by the same (A X B)F1 Th cell population cooperating with parentB (B plus accessory) cells. Moreover, responses of (A X B)F1 leads to parentA Th cells and (A X B)F1 (B plus accessory) cells were suppressed by parentA-restricted Ts clones but not by parentB-restricted Ts clones. Thus, these findings suggest that the cloned Ts cells that have been characterized here function by specifically inhibiting the MHC-restricted interaction between Th cells and B and/or accessory cells. It was further demonstrated in experiments using cloned Th and Ts populations that these Lyt-1+2-Ts cells act not simply as inducers of suppressor but rather function in a restricted fashion as effector cells in the suppressor pathway.

T cell regulation of B cell activation. I-A-restricted T suppressor cells inhibit the major histocompatibility complex-restricted interactions of T helper cells with B cells and accessory cells.

The present studies were carried out to characterize the cellular interactions involved in the activation and function of the antigen-specific and antigen-nonspecific T suppressor (Ts) cells that regulate the IgG responses of Lyb-5-B cells. The in vitro activation of both Lyt-1+2- antigen-nonspecific Ts cells and Lyt-1-2+ antigen-specific Ts cells was shown to require the interaction of accessory cells and antigen-primed T cells. It was further demonstrated that this interaction was major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-restricted in that T cell recognition of I-A-encoded determinants on accessory cells was required for Ts cell activation. The activation of antigen-primed (A X B)F1 T cells with antigen in the presence of parentA or parentB accessory cells resulted, respectively, in the generation of parentA-restricted or parentB-restricted Ts cells. ParentA-restricted F1 Ts cells suppressed the responses generated by (A X B)F1 T helper (Th) cells cooperating with parentA (B + accessory) cells but did not suppress responses by the same (A X B)F1 Th cell population cooperating with parentB (B + accessory) cells. Neither parentA-restricted Ts cells alone nor parentB-restricted Ts cells alone suppressed the responses of (A X B)F1 (B + accessory) cells, whereas a mixture of these two Ts cell populations was able to significantly suppress the responses of F1 (B + accessory) cells. In contrast, responses of (A X B)F1 leads to parentA Th cells (restricted to recognizing parentA but not parentB MHC determinants on F1 cells) and (A X B)F1 (B + accessory) cells was suppressed by parentA-restricted Ts cells but not by parentB-restricted Ts cells. Collectively these findings suggest that the Ts cell populations characterized here do not function by directly inhibiting the activity of Th cells, B cells or accessory cells of a given MHC genotype, but rather that they appear to function through a unique mechanism involving highly specific inhibition of the interaction between MHC-restricted Th cells and the (B + accessory) cells required for these responses.

Immunoglobulin (Ig) mu, kappa transgenic mice express transgenic idiotype on endogenously rearranged IgM and IgA molecules by secretion of chimeric molecules.

The sera of C57BL/6 mice transgenic for a mu a allotype heavy (H) chain and kappa light chain gene contained endogenous nontransgene immunoglobulin (IgM) (mu b allotype) and IgA molecules which carried the idiotype expressed by the transgenically encoded IgM (mu a) molecule. Serological analysis demonstrated that the presence of the transgenic idiotype on endogenous IgM and IgA was caused by the secretion of chimeric molecules that carried both chains encoded by the mu a transgene and products of endogenously rearranged Ig mu b or alpha genes. These and other results suggest that allelic exclusion of Ig gene rearrangement in mu, kappa transgenic mice is not absolute, that B cells can secrete Igs composed of more than a single (H) chain type, and that endogenous isotype switching does not result in a complete silencing of transgene expression.

T cell regulation of B cell activation. Lyt-1+,2-T cells modify the MHC-restricted function of heterogeneous and cloned T suppressor cells.

Previous studies have shown the existence of both heterogeneous Lyt-1-,2+ suppressor (Ts) cells and cloned Lyt-1+,2- Ts cells which, despite the difference in their Lyt phenotypes, functioned in a similar antigen-specific and major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-restricted fashion to suppress the antibody responses generated by cloned helper T (Th) cells and hapten-primed B cells. Our studies were carried out to assess in further detail the genetically restricted cell interactions that mediate this immune response suppression. We show that the activation of both heterogeneous and cloned Ts cells is antigen-specific and MHC-restricted under our experimental conditions. After appropriate activation, the effector function of both cloned Lyt-1+,2-Ts cells and heterogeneous Lyt-1-,2+ Ts cells was also antigen-specific. In contrast, once activated, Ts cells suppressed the responses generated by cloned Th cells and hapten-primed B cells in an MHC-unrestricted fashion. We also showed, however, that a population of unprimed Lyt-1+,2-T cells was able to significantly alter the genetic restriction requirements for Ts cell function. The activity of this population was itself MHC-restricted, and was observed only when the unprimed Lyt-1+,2-T cells shared the MHC restriction specificity of the cloned Th cells functioning in a given response. When these requirements were satisfied, Lyt-1+,2- T cells significantly modified the suppression mediated by both heterogeneous and cloned Ts cells, resulting in suppression that was then MHC restricted in its effector function as well as in its activation requirements. Thus, our findings suggest that the observed MHC restriction in Ts function is the result of a complex interaction involving Ts cells, Th cells, and an additional population of MHC-restricted Lyt-1+,2- T cells. This newly characterized activity of Lyt-1+,2- T cells functionally resembles that of an MHC-restricted contrasuppressor population that selectively blocks a pathway of MHC-unrestricted Ts activity, while leaving intact susceptibility to MHC-restricted Ts effects.

T cell regulation of B cell activation. T cells independently regulate the responses mediated by distinct B cell subpopulations.

The present studies have been carried out to characterize the regulatory influences acting upon defined pathways of T cell-dependent B cell activation. In these studies, it was demonstrated that high concentrations of free carrier strongly inhibited the MHC-restricted in vitro T cell-dependent antibody responses of primed Lyb-5- B cells to the corresponding carrier-hapten conjugate. In contrast, these same concentrations of free carrier failed to inhibit the T cell dependent responses of Lyb-5+ B cells to the same antigen. The inhibition of Lyb-5- B cell responses by free carrier was shown to result from active suppression mediated by carrier-specific primed Lyt-1+2- T cells and to require the additional participation of unprimed Lyt-1-2+ T cells. The activation of this suppression was antigen-specific, but suppression once activated was antigen nonspecific in its effect. These findings thus demonstrate that distinct pathways of B cell activation can be independently regulated by T suppressor network influences, and that these pathways therefore constitute potentially independent components of the immune response to a given antigenic stimulus.

Major histocompatibility complex-restricted self-recognition in responses to trinitrophenyl-ficoll. Adaptive differentiation and self-recognition by B cells.

The present study has examined the possibility of TNP-Ficoll-responsive B cells recognize the MHC determinants expressed by the accessory cells with which they interact for the generation of T cell-independent responses to "high" concentrations (10(-2) micrograms/ml) of TNP-Ficoll. In experiments with B cells from normal mice, it was found that MHC homology between the TNP-Ficoll-responsive B cells and accessory cells was not required. Nevertheless, TNP-Ficoll-responsive B cells from both fully allogeneic (A leads to B) and F1 leads to parent radiation bone marrow chimeras were triggered by accessory cells expressing host-type, but not uniquely donor-type, MHC determinants. The MHC gene products responsible for this apparent B cell-accessory restriction were encoded in the left side, i.e., the K and/or I-A region, of H-2. Such genetic restrictions were shown not to be imposed by the residual T cells contaminating the chimeric B cell populations because T cell reconstitution experiments using "unrestricted" F1 T cells from normal mice did not fully overcome the marked preference of the chimeric B cells for accessory cells expressing appropriate (host-type) MHC determinants. To directly determine whether TNP-Ficoll-responsive B cells from fully allogeneic chimeras are unable to recognize and cooperate with syngeneic strain A accessory cells, unfractionated spleen cells from A leads to B chimeras are co-cultured with unfractionated spleen cells from essentially syngeneic normal strain A mice. In such co-cultures, all the accessory cells express strain A MHC determinants, and all T cell requirements would be fulfilled by the T cells present in the normal strain A spleen cell population. After stimulation of the co-cultures with TNP-Ficoll, it was found that virtually all the PFC that had been generated in the co-cultures were derived from the normal B cell population, and essentially none were derived from the chimeric A leads to B B cell population. The failure of the chimeric B cells to be activated in such co-cultures was specifically due to their maturation in a fully allogeneic host environment because TNP-Ficoll-responsive B cells from A leads to (A X B) F1 chimeric mice were successfully triggered in co-cultures with normal spleen cells. These experiments demonstrated that the co-culture conditions did fulfill the MHC restriction requirements for activating TNP-Ficoll-responsive strain A B cells that had matured in a syngeneic or semi-syngeneic differentiation environment, but did not fulfill the MHC restriction requirements for activating TNP-Ficoll-responsive strain A B cells that had matured in a fully allogeneic differentiation environment. Taken together, these results demonstrate that (a) TNP-Ficoll-responsive B cells recognize the MHC determinants expressed by accessory cells, and (b) their MHC specificity is influenced by the MHC haplotype of the host environment in which the B cells had differentiated.

Expression of a MHC class II transgene determines both superantigenicity and susceptibility to mammary tumor virus infection.

Milk-borne mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) is a type B retrovirus that induces mammary carcinoma. Infectious MMTV, as well as genomically integrated mouse mammary proviruses, encode superantigens that are recognized by T cells that express appropriate T cell receptor V beta products. To determine the relationship between the superantigenic property of milk-borne MMTV and its in vivo infectivity, mice which were either positive or negative for expression of a transgene-encoded E alpha E beta class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) product were exposed to milk borne C3H MMTV. Superantigen-mediated deletion of V beta 14-expressing T cells occurred only in E alpha transgene-positive mice, indicating that the deletion was E alpha E beta dependent. When mice were analyzed for viral infection by assaying viral p28 in the milk of recipient females, significant p28 levels were found only in E alpha E beta transgene-positive mice. Similarly, the presence of C3H MMTV LTR mRNA in mammary glands, as detected by PCR, paralleled p28 levels. These findings indicate that E alpha expression or the E alpha-dependent T cell response to viral superantigen is causally related to susceptibility to MMTV infection, and that lack of a permissive class II product can protect mice from virus infection.

Self recognition in allogeneic radiation bone marrow chimeras. A radiation-resistant host element dictates the self specificity and immune response gene phenotype of T-helper cells.

The specificity of the self-recognition repertoire in fully allogeneic (A {arrow} B), semiallogeneic (A {arrow} A x B and A x B {arrow} A), and double donor (A + B {arrow} A) radiation bone marrow chimeras was assessed by the ability of their spleen cells to generate in vitro primary plaque-forming cell (PFC) responses to trinitrophenyl- keyhole limpet hemocyanin. In contrast to spleen cells from semiallogeneic and double donor chimeras, intact spleen cells from fully allogeneic BI0 {arrow} B10.A and B10.A {arrow} B10 chimeras were not capable of generating responses to trinitrophenyl (TNP)-keyhole limpet hemocyanin. However, cultures containing a mixture of both B10 {arrow} B10.A and B10.A {arrow} B10 spleen cells did respond, demonstrating that all the cell populations required for the in vitro generation of T-dependent PFC responses were able to differentiate into functional competence in a fully allogeneic major histocompatibility complex (MHC) environment. The self recognition repertoire of T-helper cells from fully allogeneic A {arrow} B chimeras was determined to be specific for the recognition of host, not donor, MHC determinants in that they were able to collaborate with cells expressing only host MHC determinants but not with cells expressing only donor MHC determinants, even though the functional lymphocytes in these chimeras were shown to be of donor origin. Experiments utilizing double donor A + B {arrow} A chimeras further demonstrated that the ability of chimeric T cells to recognize allogeneic MHC determinants as self structures was a function of a radiation-resistant host element and not simply a consequence of the tolerization of T cell precursors to allogeneic MHC determinants, because strain A lymphocytes isolated from A + B {arrow} A chimeras were tolerant to both A and B MHC determinants but were restricted to the self recognition of syngeneic host type A MHC determinants. Finally, the Ir gene phenotype expressed by B10 {arrow} B10.A and B10.A {arrow} B10 chimeric lymphocytes was determined by their ability to function in the Ir gene controlled response to TNP-poly-L-(Tyr,Glu)-poly-D,L-Ala-poly- L-Lys [(T,G)-A--L]. The ability of lymphocytes to function in TNP-(T,G)-A--L responses was not determined by their genotype but rather paralleled the specificity of their self recognition repertoire for high responder (H-2 (b)) determinants. The possible degeneracy of the MHC-specific self recognition repertoire is discussed, and a model is proposed for Ir gene regulation in which expression of Ir gene function by lymphocytes is an antigen-nonspecific consequence of the specificity and cross-reactivity of their self recognition repertoire.

Cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses by chimeric thymocytes. Self-recognition is determined early in T cell development.

In this study the cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) recognition pattern of thymocytes from recently reconstituted parent leads to F1 and F1 leads to parent radiation bone marrow chimeras was investigated. Chimeric thymocytes were entirely of donor origin approximately 4 wk after irradiation and reconstitution but were not capable of autonomously generating either alloreactive or trinitrophenyl (TNP)-modified-self-reactive CTL responses. However, in the presence of interleukin-2 (I1-2), the the putative T helper cell product, CTL could be generated in vitro by thymocytes from recently reconstituted chimeras. Experiments with thymocytes from A leads to A X B and A X B leads to A chimeras revealed the following: (a) thymocytes from both types of chimeras were nonreactive to either A or B parental major-histocompatibility complex (MHC) determinants even though they were alloreactive to third-party stimulator cells; and (b) thymocytes from these chimeras were restricted to the recognition of TNP in association with MHC determinants syngeneic to the chimeric host. Thus, these experiments demonstrate that even at the earliest time CTL effectors of donor origin from the thymuses of chimeras can be studied, their self-receptor repertoire has already been restricted to recognition of host MHC determinants. These results support the concept that the host environment influences the self-recognition capacity of T cells at the pre- or intrathymic stage of differentiation.

Major histocompatibility complex-restricted self-recognition in responses to trinitrophenyl-Ficoll. A novel cell interaction pathway requiring self-recognition of accessory cell H-2 determinants by both T cells and B cells.

In vitro primary antibody responses to limiting concentrations of trinitrophenyl (TNP)-Ficoll were shown to be T cell dependent, requiring the cooperation of T helper (TH) cells, B cells, and accessory cells. Under these conditions, TH cells derived from long-term radiation bone marrow chimeras were major histocompatibility complex (MHC) restricted in their ability to cooperate with accessory cells expressing host-type MHC determinants. The requirement for MHC-restricted self-recognition by TNP-Ficoll-reactive B cells was assessed under these T-dependent conditions. In the presence of competent TH cells, chimeric B cells were found to be MHC restricted, cooperating only with accessory cells that expressed host-type MHC products. In contrast, the soluble products of certain monoclonal T cell lines were able to directly activate B cells in response to TNP-Ficoll, bypassing any requirement for MHC-restricted self-recognition. These findings demonstrate the existence of a novel cell interaction pathway in which B cells as well as TH cells are each required to recognize self-MHC determinants on accessory cells, but are not required to recognize each other. They further demonstrate that the requirement for self-recognition by B cells may be bypassed in certain T-dependent activation pathways.

Major histocompatibility complex-restricted self recognition. A monoclonal anti-I-Ak reagent blocks helper T cell recognition of self major histocompatibility complex determinants.

The functional role of cell surface Ia antigens has been studied for in vitro antibody responses, using as a probe the ability of anti-Ia reagents to inhibit these responses. A hybridoma monoclonal anti-Ia reagent specific for a product of I-Ak (Ia.17) profoundly inhibited in vitro antibody responses to TNP-KLH by spleen cells of the I-Ak but not I-Ab haplotype. This inhibition by anti-I-Ak product, but not by interaction with T or B cell product, in spite of the fact that functional B cells as well as accessory cells could be shown to express the determinant detected by this hybridoma reagent. These results suggest that the Ia expressed by accessory cells in of unique functional importance in these responses. To further characterize the function of Ia antigens in this response system, the mechanism of anti-I-Ak inhibition was determined. The inhibition resulting from interaction of anti-I-Ak with accessory cell Ia was not mediated by nonspecific suppressor cells, nor was there nonspecific interference with accessory cell function as a result of the binding of anti-Ia antibody. The relationship between anti-Ia inhibition and T helper cell recognition of self determinations on accessory cells was analyzed using T cells from radiation bone marrow chimeras. It was demonstrated that (B10 X B10.A)F1 leads to B10 (F1 leads to B10) chimera T cells were able to cooperate with B10 (H-2b and I-Ab) but not B10.A (H-2a and I-Ak) accessory cells for responses to TNP-KLH; F1 leads to B10.A T cells were able to cooperate with B10.A but not B10 accessory cells; and both chimera populations were able to cooperate with (B10 X B10.A)F1 (F1) accessory cells. Monoclonal anti-I-Ak inhibited the cooperation of F1 leads to B10.A T cells with the same F1 accessory cells. Thus, inhibition by anti-I-Ak is dependent upon active helper T cell recognition of I-Ak-encoded determinants expressed on accessory cells. These findings demonstrate that T cells recognize self Ia determinants expressed on accessory cells, and that such recognition is required for the generation of T cell-dependent antibody responses.

Clonal analysis of the Mls system. A reappraisal of polymorphism and allelism among Mlsa, Mlsc, and Mlsd.

Only two sets of antigenic determinants are recognized by T lymphocytes at uniquely high precursor frequencies: those encoded by the MHC and those encoded by Mls. The structural as well as functional characteristics of MHC products have been extensively analyzed. In contrast, little information concerning the nature of Mls genes or their products is available. Although it was originally described (5, 6) that the Mls locus on chromosome 1 is composed of four alleles that encode polymorphic cell surface structures, the issues of polymorphism and allelism in the Mls system have been controversial for some time. In the present study, T cell clones were generated by continuous stimulation of B10.BR (H-2k, Mlsb) T cells by CBA/J (H-2k, Mlsd) stimulators and they were used to analyze the relationship of putative Mlsa, Mlsc, and Mlsd determinants. All clones proliferated in response to determinants expressed by CBA/J stimulators. In addition, each of these clones exhibited a second reactivity to either AKR/J (H-2k, Mlsa) or C3H/HeJ (H-2k, Mlsc) stimulators. No clone responded to both AKR/J and C3H/HeJ. These second specificities were defined to be for Mlsa or Mlsc determinants, respectively, by the response patterns of clones and unprimed T cells to stimulators derived from congenic strains, recombinant inbred (RI) strains, and backcross mice. Moreover, a segregation analysis of the (CBA/J X B10.BR)F1 X B10.BR backcross indicated that the Mlsa-like and Mlsc-like determinants expressed on CBA/J (Mlsd) cells are in fact encoded by nonallelic, unlinked genes. These findings suggest a new concept of the polymorphism and genetics of the Mls system. It is proposed that two distinct and nonallelic gene products express, respectively, the noncrossreacting Mlsa and Mlsc determinants, and that the Mlsd phenotype does not represent an independent genotype but rather reflects the concurrent expression of Mlsa and Mlsc. The Mls system, therefore, consists of at least two systems that are distinct both genetically and antigenically, and that may be of different biologic or physiologic significance as well.

Cellular and genetic control of antibody responses. V. Helper T-cell recognition of H-2 determinants on accessory cells but not B cells.

Requirements for helper T-cell recognition of H-2 determinants expressed on adherent accessory cells and on B cells was individually assessed in the anti-hapten PFC responses to TNP-KLH. Complicating allogeneic effects were minimized or avoided by the use of helper T cells from normal F1 hybrids, parent leads to F1 chimeras, and F1 leads to parent chimeras. The results of both in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that: (a) helper T cells are not required to recognize the identical H-2 determinants on both accessory cells and B cells; (b) helper T cells are required to recognize K or I-A region-encoded determinants expressed on accessory cells; (c) no requirement was observed in vitro or in vivo for helper T-cell recognition of B-cell-expressed H-2 determinants; and (d) no requirement was observed for H-2 homology between accessory cells and B cells. The absence of required helper T-cell recognition of the identical H-2 determinants on both accessory cells and B cells was demonstrated in two ways: (a) naive of KLH-primed (A x B)F1 hybrid helper T cells collaborated equally well with B cells from either parentA or parentB in the presence of accessory cells from either parent; (b) A leads to (A x B)F1 chimeric spleen cells depleted of accessory cells collaborated equally well with accessory cells from either parentA or parentB, even though the B cells only expressed the H-2 determinants of parentA. A requirement for helper T-cell recognition of K or I-A region-encoded H-2 determinants on accessory cells was also demonstrated in two ways: (a) (A x B)F1 leads to parentA chimeric spleen cells depleted of accessory cells collaborated with accessory cells from parentA but not parentB; and (b) (A x B)F1 leads to parentA chimeric helper T cells collaborated with normal F1 B cells only in the presence of parental or recombinant accessory cells that expressed the K or I-A region-encoded determinants of parentA. Although restricted in their ability to recognize H-2 determinants on accessory cells, it was demonstrated both in vitro and in vivo that (A x B)F1 leads to parentA chimeric helper T cells were able to collaborate with B cells from either parentA or parentB. In vitro in the presence of accessory cells from parentA, (A x B)F1 leads to parentA chimeric helper T cells collaborated equally well with B cells from either parent. In addition, the inability of (A x B)F1 leads to parentA chimeric helper T cells to collaborate with (B + accessory) cells from parentB was successfully reversed by the addition of parentA SAC as added accessory cells. In vivo, upon the addition of parentA accessory cells, (A x B)F1 leads to parentA chimeric helper T cells collaborated with parentB B cells in short-term adoptive transfer experiments.

Cellular and genetic control of antibody responses in vitro. II. Ir gene control of primary IgM responses to trinitrophenyl conjugates of poly-L-(Tyr,Glu)-poly-D,L-Ala--poly-L-Lys and poly-L-(His,Glu)-poly-D,L-Ala--poly-L-Lys.

The in vitro primary IgM anti-hapten responses to trinitrophenyl (TNP) conjugates of poly-L-(Tyr,Glu)-poly-D,L-Ala-poly-L-Lys (T,G)-A--L and poly-L(His,Glu)-poly-D,L-Ala--poly-L-Lys (H,G)-A--L were shown to be T-cell dependent and under autosomal dominant H-2-linked Ir gene control which mapped within the K or I-A regions of the H-2 complex. The in vitro response to TNP-keyhole limpet hemocyanin, while T-dependent, was not under demonstrable genetic control. The genes governing the in vitro primary IgM anti-hapten responses to TNP-(T,G)-A--L and TNP-(H,G)-A--L resemble the Ir genes controlling the in vivo secondary IgG responses to (T,G)-A--L and (H,G)-A--L in that they are autosomal dominant, map identically within the H-2 complex, and have identical responder and nonresponder haplotypes. It is concluded that Ir genes can govern the ability to generate an IgM response upon initial exposure to antigen.

Self recognition in allogeneic thymic chimeras. Self recognition by T helper cells from thymus-engrafted nude mice is restricted to the thymic H-2 haplotype.

To examine the possibility that the thymus determines the I region-restricted self-recognition repertoire expressed by T helper (TH) cells, thymic chimeras were constructed by transplanting allogeneic neonatal thymic lobes into congenitally athymic nude mice. Spleen TH cells from the thymic chimeras were themselves of nude host origin but only cooperated with B+ accessory cells of the thymic haplotype for primary in vitro responses to sheep erythrocytes and trinitrophenyl conjugate of keyhole limpet hemocyanin. Thus, these experiments demonstrate that the self-recognition repertoire expressed by TH cells is determined by the H-2 phenotype of the intrathymic environment in which the TH cells had differentiated.

Role of the major histocompatibility complex in T cell activation of B cell subpopulations. Major histocompatibility complex-restricted and -unrestricted B cell responses are mediated by distinct B cell subpopulations.

The present study has evaluated the identity of the B cell subpopulations participating in T dependent antibody responses that differ in their requirements for major histocompatibility complex-restricted T cell recognition. In vitro responses of keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH)-primed T cells and trinitrophenyl (TNP)-primed B cells were studied to both low and high concentrations of the antigen TNP-KLH. It was first demonstrated that for responses to low concentrations of TNP-KLH, (A x B)F(1) {arrow} parent(A) chimeric helper T cells were restricted in their ability to recognize parent(A) but not parent(B) H-2 determinants expressed by both B cells and antigen-presenting cells (APC). In contrast, at higher antigen concentrations, helper T cells were not restricted in their interaction with B cells. It was then determined whether these observed differences in T cell recognition resulted from the activation of distinct B cell subpopulations with different activation requirements. At low concentrations of TNP-KLH it was demonstrated that Lyb-5(-) B cells were activated, and that it was thus the activation of the Lyb-5(-) subpopulation that required T cell recognition of B cell H-2 under these conditions. In contrast, responses to high concentration of antigen required the participation of Lyb-5(+) B cells, and these Lyb-5(+) B cells were activated by a pathway that required H-2- restricted T cell interaction with APC, but not with B cells. The findings presented here have demonstrated that Lyb-5(-) and Lyb-5(+) B cells constitute B cell subpopulations that differ significantly in their activation requirements for T cell-dependent antibody responses to TNP-KLH. In so doing, these findings have established that the function of genetic restrictions in immune response regulation is critically dependent upon the activation pathways employed by functionally distinct subpopulations of B, as well as T, lymphocytes.

Mls is not a single gene, allelic system. Different stimulatory Mls determinants are the products of at least two nonallelic, unlinked genes.

Mls determinants share with MHC products the unique property of stimulating T cells at extraordinarily high precursor frequencies. The Mls system was originally described as a single locus on chromosome 1, with four alleles, Mlsa, Mlsb, Mlsc, and Mlsd, that encode polymorphic cell surface structures. However, the fundamental issues of polymorphism and allelism in the Mls system remain controversial. To clarify these questions, a formal segregation analysis of the genes encoding Mlsa and Mlsc determinants was carried out by testing the capacity of spleen cells from progeny of (Mlsa X Mlsc)F1 X Mlsb breedings to stimulate responses by unprimed T cells and by Mlsa- and Mlsc-specific cloned T cells. The results of this analysis indicated that the gene encoding Mlsa determinants is neither allelic to nor linked to the gene encoding Mlsc determinants. Together with previous findings, these results also suggest that another strongly stimulatory type, Mlsd, in fact results from the independent expression of unlinked Mlsa and Mlsc gene products. Based on these observations, it is concluded that, contrary to conventional concepts, the stimulatory phenotypes designated as Mlsa, Mlsc, and Mlsd can be accounted for by the independent expression of the products of at least two unlinked gene loci.

Selective decreases in T cell receptor V beta expression. Decreased expression of specific V beta families is associated with expression of multiple MHC and non-MHC gene products.

Previous reports of TCR V beta usage, studying either expression of a single V beta in a wide panel of strains (6, 7, 10, 12, 13), or expression of multiple V beta s in a very limited strain distribution (14, 15), have identified instances of clonal deletion of potentially autoreactive T cells specific for either self E alpha E beta or minor lymphocyte stimulatory (Mls) antigens. The present study has investigated the range of self antigens that can influence V beta usage by evaluating expression of 16 V beta families in 30 strains of mice. It was found that significant decreases in expression occur in at least 8 of the 16 V beta families and that dominant influences on the T cell V beta repertoire are exerted by expression of Mlsa, Mlsc, and MHC gene products. Decreased expressions of V beta 5, -11, -12, and -16 were influenced by MHC gene products. The patterns of decreased expression seen in intra-MHC recombinant strains and strains of different non-MHC background were distinct for V beta 11, -12, and -16, suggesting that different ligands are involved in the deletion of T cells expressing each of these V beta genes. Mice expressing Mlsa show decreased expression of V beta 9 as well as V beta 6. Mlsc mice lacked V beta 3 expression in those strains where the expressed MHC type was compatible with a strongly stimulatory Mlsc phenotype. V beta 7 was strongly influenced by both MHC and non-MHC products that are not yet identified. These results demonstrate that strain-specific decreases of mRNA expression occur in a major portion of the TCR repertoire. Self antigens including Mlsa, Mlsc, and E alpha E beta, as well as additional MHC and non-MHC products, appear to induce these decreases in expression in the process of eliminating self-reactive T cells from the mature T cell pool.

Analysis of Mlsc genetics. A novel instance of genetic redundancy.

The identity of the self determinants involved in the selection of the T cell repertoire has been a matter of considerable interest. In addition to the apparent critical role of MHC gene products, accumulated experimental results indicate the importance of non-MHC gene products in T cell repertoire selection. In particular, murine Mlsa and Mlsc determinants have been shown to be highly stimulatory to allogeneic T cells and to be involved in the negative selection (elimination) of self-reactive T cells expressing selected TCR V beta segments. In this work, a unique phenomenon of genetic redundancy is described in the control of Mlsc expression: Mlsc appears to be controlled by at least two unlinked loci, and the product of either one of these loci is sufficient to evoke Mlsc-specific T cell response and to act as a ligand in the deletion of self Mlsc-reactive V beta 3+ T cells. Based on these findings, we propose a possible explanation for the fact that Mls-like genes or gene products have not been identified in other species such as man.

Synergy between subpopulations of mouse spleen cells in the in vitro generation of cell-mediated cytotoxicity: evidence for the involvement of a non-T cell.

Two subpopulations separated from normal spleen have been shown to synergize as responding cells in the in vitro induction of specific cell-mediated cytotoxicity during the mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC). The synergizing populations are a nylon wool column-adherent and a nylon wool column-nonadherent fraction, enriched for B lymphocytes and T lymphocytes, respectively. When a mixture of these fractions is used as the responding cell population in MLC, greater cytotoxicity is generated than would be expected from the sum of activities generated in the two subpopulations sensitized separately. The synergy appears to occur at the sensitization rather than the effector phase. The synergizing cell which is contained in the nylon-adherent subpopulation is distinct from the cytotoxic effector T lymphocyte, is resistant to lysis by rabbit antimouse brain serum, and is unresponsive to phytohemagglutinin; its synergizing function could not be replaced by either plastic-adherent spleen cells or peritoneal exudate cells. These results suggest a role of a non-T-cell nonmacrophage population in the generation of cytotoxic activity.