Suppressor T-Cell Hybridoma with a Receptor Recognizing KLH-Specific Suppressor Factor

Immune responses are known to be regulated by complicated interactions of T-cell subsets that play different functional roles.(1–6) In our previous studies of the cellular mechanisms in the suppression of antibody response, at least three functionally distinct subsets of suppressor T cells, i.e., suppressor T cells producing antigen-specific factor (TsF), suppressor T cells with acceptor site for TsF (acceptor T cell), and effector-suppressor T cells, were found to be involved in the regulatory T-cell interactions.(1) The initial step of suppressor T cell interaction is a process of activation of acceptor T cells by an antigen-specific TsF. The effector-suppressor T cells are then generated under the influence of activated acceptor T cells. Therefore, antigen-specific TsF mediates the regulatory T-cell interaction in which no direct cell contact is necessary. Moreover, antigen-specific TsF seems not to be an effector-suppressor molecule but rather a molecule whose function is to activate other subsets of suppressor T cells. In this sense, the antigen-specific TsF appears to work as a device to recognize antigens and also to communicate with other T cells.