Nature of hapten-modified determinants involved in induction of T cell tolerance and suppressor T cells to DNFB contact sensitivity

Unresponsiveness to 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNFB) contact sensitivity induced by dinitrophenyl (DNP)-modified cells (DNP-LC) is mediated by two separable pathways: a rapidly induced, long lasting inhibition of reactive T cell clones (donor tolerance), and a transient period of suppressor T cell (Ts) activity. The present report has examined the nature of the hapten-modified determinants responsible for the induction of these pathways by utilizing soluble DNP-LC cell lysate preparations as tolerogens. The results indicate that both DNP-modified major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and non-MHC encoded determinants can mediate donor tolerance 7 days after tolerization. On the other hand, the induction of Ts requires DNP-modified MHC determinants, since DNP-LC lysates passed over lentil lectin or specific anti-H-2 immunoabsorbent columns lost their ability to induce Ts. Additional experiments showed that the injection of DNP-LC lysates compatible with the recipient strain at the H-2K and H-2D region of the MHC was sufficient for the induction of Ts. It is proposed that Ts induction involves the direct presentation of DNP-H-2 determinants to Ts precursors, whereas the induction of donor tolerance may involve host processing and presentation of DNP-modified membrane determinants in conjunction with host MHC structures.