Antigen-specific immunoregulation and autoimmune thyroiditis.

1. Large Thy1+, CD8+ immunoregulatory cells were found in the thymus of mice 9-16 days after injection of soluble mouse thyroglobulin (without adjuvant). 2. Similar immunoregulatory cells appeared in the spleen 14-21 days after antigen administration suggesting that they were generated in the thymus and later migrated to the spleen. 3. The immunoregulatory cells were antigen-specific and attached to cognate antigen. 4. The degree of inhibition by the immunoregulatory cells differed among various inbred strains of mice and were virtually absent from SJL mice. 5. The regulatory function of the cells was strain specific in vitro and in vivo, and was restricted by both H-2 and non-H-2 haplotype. 6. By panning on antigen-coated plates, immunoregulatory cells were isolated and cell lines and clones with inhibitory function established.