Mechanism of action of suppressor cells. In vivo concanavalin-A-activated suppressor cells do not directly affect B cells.
The addition of a small proportion (10%) of in vivo concanavalin-A (Con-A)-activated spleen cells to normal spleen cell cultures suppressed the primary immune response to sheep erythrocytes (SRBC) but had no effect on the thymus-independent primary immune response to 3,5-dinitro-4-hydroxy-phenacetyl-conjugated lipopolysaccharide. When Con-A-activated cells were added after 24 h, there was no suppression of the anti-SRBC response but rather an enhanced response when few cells were admixed. Con-A-activated cells did not influence activation of normal cells by polyclonal T- and B-cell activators. It is concluded that Con-A-induced suppressor cells do not act on B cells but rather on helper cells (T cells or macrophages) at a very early stage of the immune response to thymus-dependent antigens.
D000818:Animals; D000921:Antibody-Producing Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D000941:Antigens; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects; D037102:Lectins / Q000494:pharmacology; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects
D000941:Antigens; D037102:Lectins; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D003208:Concanavalin A