title: The in vitro suppression of spontaneous erythrocyte autoimmune responses with lymphocytes activated with concanavalin A.
abstract: When normal mouse spleen cells are cultured in vitro, large numbers of cells develop that produce antibody toward antigens found on bromelain-treated mouse erythrocytes (BrMRBC). The in vitro culture also generates T cells that mediate DTH toward these antigens. We have suggested that under in vivo conditions, suppressor T cells maintain these immune responses at a low level but that this suppression wanes when the cells are cultured in vitro. The present study examines the effect of concanavalin A (Con A) on the in vitro development of humoral and cell-mediated immunity to Br-MRBC. Mitogenic concentrations of Con A prevented the development of both the PFC and TDTH responses toward BrMRBC. The Con A-induced suppression was due to the induction of suppressor T cells; thus the addition of Con A-activated cells to fresh spleen cell cultures prevented the development of both the  PFC and TDTH response against BrMRBC.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum / Q000494:pharmacology; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D001963:Bromelains / Q000494:pharmacology; D003165:Complement System Proteins; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006462:Hemolytic Plaque Technique; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000276:immunology; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum; D001323:Autoantibodies; D003208:Concanavalin A; D001963:Bromelains; D003165:Complement System Proteins