Immunoregulatory activity of human bone marrow. Identification of suppressor cells possessing OKM1, SSEA-1, and HNK-1 antigens.
Human bone marrow contains natural regulatory cells capable of suppressing the in vitro primary IgM response of normal tonsillar cells. The suppression is mediated by non-T cells possessing Fc receptors, OKM1, SSEA-1, and HNK-1 antigens on their surface. The suppression was abrogated by treatment of bone marrow cells (BMC) with anti-HNK-1 or anti-SSEA-1 antisera and complement. Furthermore, BMC depleted of HNK-1+ cells could respond in a primary in vitro antibody response when provided with accessory T cells and macrophages from tonsillar cells. Our findings support the idea that HNK-1+ and HNK-1- BMC populations act antagonistically in the regulation of antibody synthesis. Further, the finding of HNK-1+, SSEA-1+, and OKM1+ suppressor cells in human bone marrow may represent a precursor phenotype of mature natural killer cells with potent immunoregulatory activity.
D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000276:immunology*; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells; D002469:Cell Separation; D006017:Glycolipids / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007106:Immune Sera / Q000494:pharmacology; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016256:Lewis X Antigen; D016169:Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1; D010641:Phenotype; D011961:Receptors, Fc / Q000032:analysis; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000145:classification* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
D000954:Antigens, Surface; D006017:Glycolipids; D007106:Immune Sera; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D016256:Lewis X Antigen; D016169:Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1; D011961:Receptors, Fc