ABSTRACT
N. K. Jeme has proposed that the immune system comprises a network of idiotypes (Id) and anti-idiotypes which are intimately involved in regulation. The theory implies that each combining site, in addition to binding a number of foreign antigenic determinants, necessarily also combines with a number of Id determinants within the same immune system. The chapter deals with the Id-specific Suppressor T (Ts) subset which appears to play a pivotal role in suppressor pathways characterized by dominant cross-reactive Id. It reviews what is known about inductive signals required for Id-specific Ts cells; their functional and cellular properties; and physiological significance. Since the chambers precluded direct cell contact between the host Ts cells and the myeloma target cells, suppression appears to have been mediated by factors released from the Ts population. Soluble suppressor factors derived from one population of Ts cells was shown to function by inducing subsequent Ts cell types.
