Autoreactive T cells in mercury‐induced autoimmunity. Demonstration by limiting dilution analysis

摘要

AbstractMercuric chloride is responsible in Brown‐Norway rats for an autoimmune disease that is autoregulated. Previous studies have shown that this agent induces T cell‐dependent polyclonal B cell activation in these rats. Evidence has also been obtained for the existence of autoreactive T cells which play a role in the evolution of this process. In the present study, limiting dilution analysis was used to demonstrate that (a) frequent autoreactive T helper cells which proliferate in the presence of T cells from HgCI2‐injected rats are present from day 4; (b) frequent auto‐anti‐Ia T helper cells which recognize normal B cells as well as B cells from HgCI 2 −injected rats appear from day 6; and (c) less frequent T suppressor cells which could play a role in auto‐regulation e