ACTIVATION OF IMMUNE REGULATORY CIRCUITS AMONG OKT4+-CELLS BY AUTOLOGOUS MIXED LYMPHOCYTE REACTIONS

  • 1 January 1984
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 56  (2) , 390-398
Abstract
The nature of an autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction (AMLR) was examined using T cell subsets defined by monoclonal antibodies. Cells capable of proliferating in the AMLR were demonstrated to reside in an OKT4+, but not an OKT8+, cell subset. With regard to the role of the T cell subsets recoverable from AMLR in the immune regulation, OKT4+ cells isolated from cells that were activated for 3 days in AMLR did help pokeweed mitogen (PWM) stimulated Ig synthesis by autologous B cells. The OKT4+ cells activated for 6 days in AMLR exerted strong suppressor activity for PWM-induced Ig synthesis. Irradiation with 1500 rad on activated OKT4+ cells in AMLR for 6 days not only eliminated the suppressor function but allowed for re-emergence of helper function. Cells exerting suppressor activity alone were recovered from OKT8+ cells stimulated with or without autologous non-T cells. OKT4+ cells activated in AMLR probably contain 2 functionally different subsets; one as helper cells and the other as suppressor cells. The emergence of OKT4+ suppressor function follows activation of the OKT4+ helper population, suggesting that a part of AMLR reflection a mechanism of feedback suppression among OKT4+ cells.