Suppressor T Cells, Immunoglobulin and Igh Restriction

Why do some T cell express idiotypes that are serologically similar to those of the B cells, since it is now well established that T cells do not use Ig genes for their antigen specific receptors? In this review article, we have summarized some the evidence for the influence of Igh linked genes on the Suppressor T cell repertoire, using anti-u treated mice as a model system. We investigated whether B cells and Ig molecules play a role in the generation of Ts repertoire. While our results clearly confirmed that B cells and Ig are important in the establishment of Ts repertoire, our experiments failed to resolve the fundamental question - 'what dictates the Igh restriction specificity of Ts?' Ts cells from anti-u treated mice did not lose all Igh restriction specificity. Instead, they expressed an altered restriction specificity. These results suggest that there are at least two independent mechanisms responsible for the generation of the suppressor T cell repertoire. A pre-selected germ line one, which is Ig independent, and a mature one, which is Ig dependent. The precise mechanisms responsible for the generation of germ line Ts repertoire remain to be determined.