Regulation of antibody response in different immunoglobulin classes. IV. Properties and functions of IgE class-specific" suppressor factor(s) released from DNP-mycobacterium-primed T cells.

IgE class-specific suppressor factors (IgE-TsF) released from DNP-Myc-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-primed B 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 hr at 37 degrees 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.