Requirements for induction of T cell tolerance to DNFB: efficiency of membrane associated DNFB

Tolerance to contact sensitization with DNFB, a T cell dependent phenomenon, was induced in mice by preparations of DNFB coupled to mouse RBC or spleen cells. Such tolerance is dose related, wanes with time, and can be transferred to normal animals with lymphoid cells (presumably containing suppressors). Tolerance to DNFB RBC can be produced by whole DNFB RBC, by ghosts of these cells, by sonicates of the ghosts, and by detergent treated DNFB RBC ghosts. Tolerance cannot be produced by larger amounts of DNFB RBC components not associated with membrane. The ability of various DNP compounds to stimulate DNA synthesis in DNFB sensitized cells also correlates with their ability to bind to protein components; i.e., DNFB is a far more efficient stimulator than DNBSO₃, whereas DNP lysine does not stimulate at all. Thus, the ability to sensitize or to tolerize with DNFB congeners is related to their ability to couple to proteins. It appears that the active induction of T cell tolerance requires that tolerogen be coupled to cell membranes. Since both T cell sensitization and tolerance to DNFB are best produced by DNFB membrane, the actual occurrence of one state or the other must depend on the molecular method of 'presentation' of DNFB membrane.