In vitro induction of suppressor cells by plasma of rats with Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense infection.
Mitogenic responses of B and T lymphocytes from spleens of rats infected with Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense were suppressed. Plasma from infected rats suppressed the mitogenic responses of B and T lymphocytes from spleens of normal uninfected rats. Removal of immune complexes from plasma of infected rats significantly reduced the suppressive effect of the plasma on splenic lymphocytes of normal uninfected rats. Normal thymus cells treated with plasma from infected rats and added to cultures of normal spleen lymphocytes inhibited the mitogenic responses of B and T lymphocytes. We suggest that the interaction of immune complexes and Fc or C3b receptors of T lymphocytes resulted in the in vitro induction or activation of T suppressor lymphocytes.
D000818:Animals; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000032:analysis; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*; D014353:Trypanosomiasis, African / Q000276:immunology*
D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D003208:Concanavalin A; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine