REGULATION OF IGE RESPONSES TO INHALED ANTIGEN IN MICE BY ANTIGEN-SPECIFIC GAMMA-DELTA T-CELLS

Indirect evidence implicates gamma delta T cells in the cross-regulati on of CD4 alpha beta T cell responses. Adoptive transfer of small numb ers of gamma delta T cells from ovalbumin (OVA)-tolerant mice selectiv ely suppressed T(H)2- dependent immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibody produc tion without affecting parallel IgG responses. Challenge of these gamm a delta T cells in vitro with specific antigen resulted in production of high levels of interferon gamma. The effects of the gamma delta T c ells may be mediated by direct inhibition of OVA-specific CD4(+) T(H)2 cell proliferation or selection for specific CD4 T(H)2 cells.