Cellular basis of neonatal induction of in vitro tolerance

The LD and SD antigens of the major histocompatibility complex subserve differential roles in the induction of the proliferative phase in mixed lymphocyte culture and in the cytotoxic reaction seen in cell-mediated lympholysis. The present study suggests that they also behave differently in the neonatal induction of tolerance. SD antigens appear to induce tolerance in the cytotoxic T lymphocytes very effectively, whereas LD antigens (or the cytotoxic targets coded by genes in the I and/or S regions) are relatively ineffective in this regard. LD antigens presented neonatally are effective at inducing tolerance in the proliferating helper cells.