REGULATION OF THE PRIMARY INVITRO ANTIBODY-RESPONSE IN HUMAN PERIPHERAL-BLOOD LYMPHOCYTES - DIFFERENT EFFECTS OF MITOGEN-INDUCED AND SPONTANEOUS T-SUPPRESSOR CELLS

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 38  (1) , 106-115
Abstract
Specific response of human peripheral blood lymphocyte cultures to TNP[trinitrophenylated]-polyacrylamide was suppressed by the addition of concanavalin (Con)A. A dose of Con A (0.5 .mu.g/ml) could be selected which induced reproducible but incomplete suppression independent of the magnitude of the anti-TNP response. Con A-stimulated cells could transfer suppression to autologous or allogeneic responding cells. Suppressor activity was present in the E[sheep erythrocyte]-rosette forming cell fraction and was abolished by mitomycin C treatment prior to incubation. With a particular batch of fetal bovine serum, spontaneous suppressor cells were produced which suppressed the response of autologous and allogeneic lymphocytes. In allogenic mixtures, the otherwise enhancing allogeneic effect was replaced by marked suppression from spontaneous suppressor cells. This suppression was higher than that exerted on autologous lymphocytes, suggesting that an unexpected negative allogenic effect took place. Spontaneous suppressors were ineffective when added on day 2 of a culture responding to TNP-polyacrylamide whereas Con A induced suppressors were fully effective.