Characterization of human T8+ suppressor and contrasuppressor cells, separated by the lectin Vicia villosa.
The helper function of human T4+ cells acting on autologous B cells, in the presence of monocyte-enriched cells (MEC), has been studied using the hapten-carrier conjugate DNP-streptococcal antigen (DNP-SA). The antibody response can be suppressed by T8+ cells, but selection of a Vicia villosa lectin-non-adherent (T8VV-) subset enhances the suppressor function. The T8 Vicia villosa lectin-adherent (T8VV+) cells are not suppressive, rather they inhibit the T8VV- cell suppressor function. Sequential reconstitution studies suggest that the target of both T8VV- suppressor-cell and T8VV+ contrasuppressor activity is the T4 helper-inducer cell. This was established after the separation of T4+ cells into Leu 8- helper- and Leu 8+ suppressor-inducer cells. Activation of T8VV- and T8VV+ cells with antigen before reconstitution with fresh lymphocytes and MEC suggests that T8VV- suppressor activity is antigen specific, whereas T8VV+ cell contrasuppressor function is non-specific. We suggest that the human T8+ cells are functionally heterogeneous and consist not only of suppressor and cytotoxic cells but also contrasuppressor cells.
D000917:Antibody Formation; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002469:Cell Separation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004136:Dinitrobenzenes / Q000276:immunology; D000939:Epitopes; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D037102:Lectins / Q000276:immunology*; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology; D037121:Plant Lectins; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000276:immunology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D004136:Dinitrobenzenes; D000939:Epitopes; D037102:Lectins; D037121:Plant Lectins; C042242:Vicia lectins