Increased numbers of cells with suppressor T cell phenotype in the peripheral blood of patients with infectious mononucleosis.
Peripheral blood cells from six patients with acute infectious mononucleosis were studied by two-colour immunofluorescence using antibodies to human T cells, inducer and suppressor-cytotoxic T cell subsets and Ia-like antigens. The absolute number of T cells with the suppressor-cytotoxic phenotype was substantially increased in each case; many of these cells also expressed Ia-like antigens and had the morphology of the large atypical cells characteristic of infectious mononucleosis. These activated suppressor T cells of infectious mononucleosis may therefore represent a control mechanism to prevent viral-induced proliferation of B cells.
D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007244:Infectious Mononucleosis / Q000276:immunology*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D010641:Phenotype; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*
D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II