The role of CD4+ lymphocytes in the activation of non-specific suppressor cells by antigen.
Tetanus toxoid (TT) and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) can suppress lectin-induced responses. The suppression induced by TT is dose-dependent and can also down-regulate the induction of a blastogenic response by anti-CD3 and anti-CD4 monoclonals. In addition, TT can dampen the blastogenic response induced by phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) and anti-CD3. The cellular mechanism involved in the turning off of the blastogenic response was investigated by transferring cells treated for 5 days with TT to freshly obtained syngeneic cells and stimulation with PHA. The response of cultures that had received TT-treated cells was significantly lower than of those that had received cells treated with medium only. The removal of CD4+ cells at the induction phase of the suppression reversed the suppression, whereas the elimination of most CD8+ cells had no effect. We propose that CD4+ cells together with monocytes can dampen the specific and non-specific blastogenic responses.
Stefanovic
H
H
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Izaguirre
C
C
Filion
L G
LG
D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid / Q000276:immunology*
D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid