Relationship between T cell subpopulations and the mitogen responsiveness and suppressor cell function of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in normal individuals.
A simultaneous analysis was made of numbers and proportions of T cell subsets (T mu and T gamma cells), lymphocyte responsiveness to non-specific mitogens in vitro and 'short-lived suppressor cell activity' in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of normal individuals. No correlation was found between either T gamma or T mu cells and the 'short-lived suppressor cell activity', suggesting that suppression in this system is not a reflection of quantitative alteration in these subsets. However, a highly significant positive correlation was found between numbers of T mu cells and PBMC responses to the mitogens phytohaemagglutinin, concanavalin A and pokeweek mitogen. This may reflect either a helper effect of T mu cells on lymphocyte proliferation in response to mitogens or the presence of the majority of mitogen-responsive cells within this subpopulation. As in normal individuals lymphocyte responsiveness correlates with the number of circulating T mu cells, it is possible that a reduction in these cells in disease states may contribute to defects in cell-mediated immunity.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D037102:Lectins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008875:Middle Aged; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*; D013997:Time Factors
D037102:Lectins; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens; D003208:Concanavalin A