Characterization of a suppressor cell line which downgrades experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis in the rat.
A Ts lymphocyte line was isolated from spleens of rats primed with the retinal soluble Ag (SAg) in the anterior chamber of the eye. This line could inhibit in vitro SAg-driven proliferation of uveitogenic Th lymphocytes, in a radioresistant, Ag-independent manner. Adoptively transferred Ts line cells were found to downgrade experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis in actively immunized syngeneic recipients. The initial surface phenotype (OX8+) of the Ts line was unstable in vitro, however, the cells expressed suppressor function irrespective of phenotype. The mechanism of suppression did not appear to involve consumption of IL-2 or direct cytolysis of uveitogenic Th lymphocytes, but rather the production of a soluble suppressor factor. These findings may suggest an in vivo role for suppressor lymphocytes, capable of inhibiting primed Th cells, in the regulation of experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis.
Caspi
R R
RR
Laboratory of Immunology, National Eye Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892.
Kuwabara
T
T
Nussenblatt
R B
RB
D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D002460:Cell Line; D005260:Female; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D010641:Phenotype; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D012173:Retinitis / Q000276:immunology*; D013491:Suppressor Factors, Immunologic / Q000276:immunology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*; D014605:Uveitis / Q000276:immunology*
D013491:Suppressor Factors, Immunologic