Abstract
Continuous ingestion of a thymus-dependent (TD) antigen differentially affects two compartments of the immune system. A secretory IgA antibody response is induced in mucosal tissues, concurrent with a state of antigen-specific systemic unresponsiveness to parenteral challenge1, termed oral tolerance2. The precise mechanisms whereby gut antigenic exposure induces oral tolerance are unknown, although T-suppressor cells3,4, anti-idiotypic networks5 and immune complex formation6 have all been proposed. Here we show that the systemic unresponsiveness of mice made orally tolerant to the TD antigen sheep red blood cells (SRBC) is reversed by the adoptive transfer of Lyt-1+,2ā, Vicia villosa lectin-adherent and IāJ+ T cells derived from mice which are genetically resistant to the induction of oral tolerance to SRBC. This T-cell subpopulation has the characteristics of contrasuppressor effector T cells (Tcs). Small numbers of these Tcs cells reverse SRBC-specific tolerance both in vivo and in vitro. This finding offers new insight into the mechanisms of oral tolerance induction and maintenance, and suggests that a network of T cells are involved in the regulation of host responses to ingested antigens.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Challacombe, S. J. & Tomasi, T. B. Jr J. exp. Med. 152, 1459ā1472 (1980).
Tomasi, T. B. Jr Transplantation 29, 353ā356 (1980).
Kiyono, H., McGhee, J. R., Wannemuehler, M. J. & Michaelek, S. M. J. exp. Med. 155, 605ā610 (1982).
Richman, L. K., Chiller, J. M., Brown, W. R., Hanson, D. G. & Vaz, N. M. J. Immun. 121, 2429ā2434 (1978).
Kagnoff, M. F. Gastroenterology 79, 54ā61 (1980).
AndrĆ©, C., Heremans, J. F., Vaerman, J. P. & Cambiaso, C. L. J. exp. Med. 142, 1509ā1519 (1975).
Michalek, S. M., Kiyono, H., Wannemuehler, M. J., Mosteller, L. M. & McGhee, J. R. J. Immun. 128, 1992ā1998 (1982).
Watson, J., Kelly, K., Largen, M. & Taylor, B. Ann. J. Immun. 120, 422ā424 (1978).
Green, D. R., Flood, P. M. & Gershon, R. K. A. Rev. Immun. 1, 439ā463 (1983).
Gershon, R. K. et al. J. exp. Med. 153, 1533ā1546 (1981).
Green, D. R., Gold, J., Martin, S. St., Gershon, R. & Gershon, R. K. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 79, 889ā892 (1982).
Green, D. R. et al. Eur. J. Immun. 11, 973ā980 (1981).
Iverson, M., Ptak, W., Green, D. R. & Gershon, R. K. J. exp. Med. 158, 982ā987 (1983).
Yamauchi, K., Green, D. R., Eardley, D. D., Murphy, D. B. & Gershon, R. K. J. exp. Med. 153, 1547ā1561 (1981).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Suzuki, I., Kiyono, H., Kitamura, K. et al. Abrogation of oral tolerance by contrasuppressor T cells suggests the presence of regulatory T-cell networks in the mucosal immune system. Nature 320, 451ā454 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1038/320451a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/320451a0
This article is cited by
-
2-Carboxyethylgermanium sesquioxide, a synthetic organogermanium compound, as an inducer of contrasuppressor T cells
Experientia (1996)
-
Intense nutritional support in inflammatory bowel disease
Digestive Diseases and Sciences (1995)
-
Inhibition of burnāassociated suppressor cell generation by glycyrrhizin through the induction of contrasuppressor T cells
Immunology & Cell Biology (1993)
-
Immune recognition and response to the renal interstitium
Kidney International (1991)
-
Immunoregulatory factors in the pathogenesis of IgA nephropathy
Kidney International (1990)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.