The purpose of this study was to determine whether the ultraviolet (UV) radiation-induced systemic suppression of the immune response results from the release of soluble suppressor factors (TsF) by UV-induced suppressor T cells (UV Ts). Injecting a TsF-specific monoclonal antibody (B16G) significantly reduced the UV radiation-induced suppression of contact hypersensitivity (CHS). The transfer of spleen cells from the UV-irradiated, B16G-treated mice into normal recipients suppressed CHS in the recipients, indicating that while the suppression of CHS was reversed in the UV-irradiated, B16G-treated mice, suppressor cells were still present. Supernatants from cultures containing UV Ts were incubated on B16G-immunoadsorbent columns. The antibody-bound fraction (45- to 60-kDa, non-disulfide-linked proteins) suppressed CHS when injected into normal recipients. These results demonstrate that the B16G antibody reacts with TsF from UV Ts and suggest that B16G acts in vivo by inhibiting the activity of TsF. Thus, suppressor factors appear to play an essential role in the regulation of immune responses by UV Ts.