EFFECTS OF CYCLOSPORINE ON THE IMMUNE SYSTEM OF THE MOUSE II. CYCLOSPORINE INHIBITS THE EFFECTOR FUNCTION OF PRIMARY T HELPER CELLS, BUT NOT HELPER CELL PRIMING

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Abstract
This paper describes various effects of cyclosporine on T helper (TH) cells for antibody production in the mouse. Immunosuppressive doses of cyclosporine abolish the help provided by virgin (primary) TH cells, but allow the priming of normal (and under certain conditions supranormal) numbers of TH cells as assayed by adoptive transfer experiments. The helper function of primed (secondary) TH cells is normally resistant to cyclosporine. If T cells are exposed to cyclosporine during priming their helper function remains totally cyclosporine-sensitive as long as the drug therapy is continued. The mechanisms involved in these selective effects are unknown, but in vivo cyclosporine apparently can dissociate effector function (primary help) from TH cell proliferation (priming).