Suppression of concanavalin A-induced blastogenesis by HTLV-III-infected H9 cells.
The ability of cells infected with human T lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III) to suppress lymphocyte responses to concanavalin A (ConA) was evaluated. Thirty homosexual men, both HTLV-III seropositive and seronegative, and 11 seronegative laboratory personnel were studied. Peripheral blood lymphocytes from all groups had lower responses to ConA in the presence of HTLV-III-infected H9 cells than in the presence of uninfected H9 cells. Among HTLV-III-seropositive males, responses to ConA in the presence of infected or uninfected H9 cells correlated with the number of T4 cells present. The studies suggest that HTLV-III-infected cells can suppress normal lymphocyte responses. Possible mechanisms of this suppression are discussed.
D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017977:Deltaretrovirus / Q000502:physiology*; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D012192:Retroviridae Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
D003208:Concanavalin A