Genetic control of the IgG2a response to sheep erythrocytes in mice: isotype- and antigen-specific T cell-mediated suppression in low responders.

The IgG2a response to sheep erythrocytes is examined in different congenic strains of mice. B10, B6, and C57BL/Ks animals produce a low level of IgG2a antibodies to SRBC during the primary response in vivo. They remain low responders after secondary challenge in vitro. Total spleen cells or nylon-purified T cells from these low responders inhibit the IgG2a response of H-2 compatible-responding mice in a mixed culture system. This suppression is mediated by Thy-1+, Ly-1-, Ly-2+, and I-J+T cells only present in the spleen of low responding animals. These suppressor T cells appear to be IgG2a- and SRBC-specific. Function of non-H-2-linked genes as regulators of suppressor T cells differentiation is discussed.