title: Suppression of the number of clonally expanding T cells by CD8+ cells as demonstrated by murine T-cell colony formation.
abstract: Clonally developing murine T cells in the form of T-cell colonies (TCC) in methylcellulose were used to investigate the interaction between polyclonally activated T cells. Only CD8+ T cells proliferate in the methylcellulose and form TCC after stimulation with PHA and IL-2. When the number of developing TCC was counted as a measure of developing clones, it was found that increased cell numbers in the cultures led to decreased percentages of TCC (Number of TCC per 100 seeded cells). This was found already at very low cell concentrations: 40 cells per ml culture, and was maintained at least up to 10,000 cells per culture. Cell sorting (FACS) of cells showed that the suppression of developing clones was mediated via a non-adherent, Thy-1+, CD8+ cell, present in lymph nodes, spleen and the thymic medulla. Such seemingly non-specific suppressor cells may be considered in the network regulation of the functionally mature T-cell population.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Anatomy, Department A, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ropke
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division; D003470:Culture Media; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000166:cytology; D008747:Methylcellulose; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D008747:Methylcellulose