APPEARANCE OF NONSPECIFIC SUPPRESSOR T-CELLS DURING INVITRO CULTURE

Google Scholar
  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 33  (4) , 597-603
Abstract
When normal mouse spleen cells were cultured for 4 days they were capable of non-specifically suppressing the in vitro antibody response of non-precultured spleen. The suppression was mediated by a subpopulation of viable, non-adherent, T [thymus derived] lymphocytes with the surface phenotype Ly-1+, Ly-2- and Ia-. It appeared that the suppressor cells were responding to fetal calf serum antigens present in the tissue culture medium and were subsequently inactivating either B [bone marrow derived] lymphocytes or accessory cells required for antibody formation, which had passively absorbed these antigens. In this paper the nature of this non-specific immune suppression was examined more closely. It was found that the suppression was mediated by a T lymphocyte with the surface phenotype Ly-1+, Ly-2- and Ia-. It appeared that the suppressor cells were responding to fetal calf serum antigens present in the tissue culture medium and were subsequently inactivating either B [bone marrow derived] lymphocytes or accessory cells required for antibody formation, which had passively absorbed these antigens.