• 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 32  (3) , 554-562
Abstract
A direct plaque-forming cell (PFC) assay was employed following pokeweed mitogen (PWM) induced polyclonal activation of B [bone marrow-derived] lymphocytes in sarcoidosis to evaluate the in vitro humoral immune response in this disease and to delineate the immunoregulation of this response. Sarcoidosis lymphocytes had a suppressed PFC response to polyclonal activation, but were unable to suppress normal B cell PFC responses in allogeneic co-cultures. Removal of a cell type, which was corticosteroid-resistant, radio-resistant, adherent and a non T [thymus-derived] cell, from sarcoidosis mononuclear cell suspensions reversed the suppressed PFC response, indicating the presence of a suppressor monocyte. Thus in vitro suppressor cell activity was demonstrated in this disease, which is characterized by multiple immunological aberrancies.

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