Generation of antigen receptor-specific suppressor T cell clones in man.
We have shown previously that CD8+ T cells proliferate upon exposure to autologous, antigen primed CD4+ T cells, and suppress the response of fresh T cells to the priming antigen but not irrelevant antigens. The stimulus and target of suppression in this system appears to be the antigen receptor on the surface of CD4+ cells, rather than the nominal antigen. In the current study, alloantigen primed CD4+ inducer cells and IL-2-containing medium were used to generate clones of suppressor cells from several individuals. The clones inhibited the response of fresh autologous T cells only to the original allogeneic stimulator cell and to stimulator cells that shared HLA-DR antigens with the priming cell. The clones were also genetically restricted, since they inhibited the response of HLA-A,B-compatible but not HLA-A,B-incompatible individuals. The availability of a method for reproducibly generating antigen receptor-specific suppressor T cell clones in vitro should make it possible to clarify the mechanism, whereby such cells are activated and exert their suppressive effect.
D002999:Clone Cells; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*
D006680:HLA Antigens; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell