title: Inhibition of polyclonal B-cell activation by suppressor monocytes in patients with sarcoidosis.
abstract: The present study employed a direct plaque-forming cell (PGC) assay following pokeweed mitogen (PWM) induced polyclonal activation of B 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 cell, from sarcoidosis mononuclear cell suspensions reversed the suppressed PFC response, indicating the presence of a suppressor monocyte. Thus in vitro suppressor cell activity has now been demonstrated in this disease, which is characterized by multiple immunological aberrancies.
mesh_terms: D000917:Antibody Formation; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002999:Clone Cells; D006462:Hemolytic Plaque Technique; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000494:pharmacology; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000276:immunology*; D014965:X-Rays
chemical_list: D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens; D006854:Hydrocortisone