Hapten-specific T cell response to 4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenyl acetyl. X. Characterization of distinct T cell subsets mediating cutaneous sensitivity responses.

NP-O-Succinimide-induced cutaneous sensitivity (CS) responses can be adoptively transferred by NP-primed lymphoid cells into naive K-, I-, or D-compatible recipients. The distinct fine specificities of I- versus D-restricted T cell clones from various strains of mice suggested that presence of different idiotypic receptors on these T cell subsets. We now demonstrate that NP-O-Su immune lymphoid cells are composed of 2 T cell subsets with distinct antigen recognition patterns, as well as different Lyt 2 phenotypes. Thus, I-restricted cells respond to NP-coupled to a protein carrier but not to NP-coupled cells, whereas D-restricted clones react to NP-cells, but not to NP-protein conjugates.