Defective allosuppression in patients with ataxia-telangiectasia.
We describe a novel in vitro assay system that detects the generation of suppressor T cells after exposure of human lymphocytes to class I alloantigens. We have used this system to study immune functions in a group of seven patients with ataxia-telangiectasia (AT). Normal T lymphocytes exposed to cells differing at the A and B locus histocompatibility locus antigens (HLA) become activated for suppression of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-induced immunoglobulin (Ig) production. In contrast to the normal, T cells from patients with AT demonstrate no inhibitory effect after allostimulation. These data indicate that patients with AT have a profound defect involving responses to class I antigens of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC).
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis; D001260:Ataxia Telangiectasia / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007519:Isoantigens / Q000276:immunology; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D006680:HLA Antigens; D007519:Isoantigens