Immune suppression induced by acetoacetylated antigen

Injection of acetoacetylated antigen into rabbits with an ongoing reagin response abrogated this response. The possibility that this phenomenon might be due to activation of suppressor cells was studied in mice. Thymus or spleen cells from animals which had been primed with acetoacetylated antigen were able to suppress the IgG and IgM antibody response upon transfer to syngeneic mice. Maximal suppressive effect was observed 12-14 days after priming with native as well as acetoacetylated antigen. The IgG and IgM responses were equally affected by the transferred suppressor cells.