Modulation of immune responses by suppressor T cells.
The activity of suppressor T cells has been demonstrated in almost every phase of the immune response. These regulatory cells modulate both humoral and cell-mediated immunity utilizing antigen-specific and nonspecific mechanisms. For comparative purposes two murine models are described, the nonspecific suppressor T cell stimulated by the mitogen concanavalin A and the antigen-specific suppressor T cell stimulated by injection of the synthetic terpolymer acid 60-L-alanine30-L-tyrosine10 (GAT) in nonresponder mice. These two T cells are similar to expression of Ly alloantigens, ability to inhibit antibody responses, and the mediation of suppression, at least in part, by soluble products. However, differences in radio-resistance and antigenic specificity of the suppressor T cells, as well as differences in molecular characteristics of the soluble factors and their targets suggest that these T cells regulate the immune response by different mechanisms. The relationship of these two suppressor T cells to other nonspecific and antigen-specific suppressor T cells is discussed.
D000409:Alanine / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D000939:Epitopes; D005815:Genetic Code; D005971:Glutamates / Q000276:immunology; D006648:Histocompatibility; D007109:Immunity; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D051379:Mice; D012995:Solubility; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D000939:Epitopes; D005971:Glutamates; D000409:Alanine