Functional heterogeneity of L3T4+ T cells in MRL-lpr/lpr mice. L3T4+ T cells suppress major histocompatibility complex-self-restricted L3T4+ T helper cell function in association with autoimmunity.
The present study demonstrates in MRl-lpr/lpr autoimmune mice an age-dependent loss of MHC-self-restricted function by L3T4+ Th. This defect is not present in age-matched, congenic MRL-+/+ spleen cells and appears to be due to the presence of suppressor cells that are selective for L3T4+ Th and not for Lyt-2+ Th. Surprisingly, the suppressor cells are also L3T4+ T cells and can suppress the IL-2 production of congenic MRL/+ L3T4+ Th to MHC-self-restricted antigens. These data support the idea of functional specialization within the L3T4+ population of T cells. Because L3T4+ suppressor cells are detected late in the course of autoimmunity, we interpret their presence not as a primary initiating event in the development of autoimmunity, but rather as a compensatory mechanism. Additionally, similar suppression of L3T4+ Th function has also been reported in a murine graft-vs.-host model of autoimmunity, suggesting that the suppressor cells represent an immunoregulatory mechanism that is a common feature of autoimmunity. Since excessive class II-restricted Th activity for B cells has been reported for both models of autoimmunity, L3T4+ suppressor cells may represent an attempt to down regulate such excessive Th activity. These findings may be relevant to human autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, in which B cell hyperactivity is also associated with reduced IL-2 production by Th.
Via
C S
CS
Experimental Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
Shearer
G M
GM
D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology
D001323:Autoantibodies; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens; D007376:Interleukin-2