Suppressor T lymphocyte dysfunction in Graves' disease: role of the H-2 histamine receptor-bearing suppressor T lymphocytes.
The allo-suppressor effect of normal T lymphocytes on the production of migration inhibition factor by sensitized T lymphocytes of Graves' disease in response to human thyroid antigen has been studied further by a modified migration inhibition factor test employing purified T lymphocyte preparations. The production of migration inhibition factor was consistently abolished when normal T lymphocytes were mixed with the Graves' disease lymphocytes in various ratios (1:9, 2:8, and 5:5). However, pretreatment of the normal T lymphocytes with cimetidine (an H-2 histamine receptor antagonist) led to a demonstrable loss in their allo-suppressor properties, whereas pretreatment with chlorpheniramine (an H-1 histamine receptor antagonist) had no such effect. These studies indicate that a subset of normal T lymphocytes bearing H-2 histamine receptors suppresses the production or release of migration inhibition factor by sensitized T lymphocytes, and further suggest the possibility that there may be an abnormality in the H-2 receptors on Graves' disease suppressor T lymphocytes. It is conceivable that this defect is fundamental in the pathogenesis of Graves' disease.
D000328:Adult; D002744:Chlorpheniramine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002927:Cimetidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007961:Leukocyte Migration-Inhibitory Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011968:Receptors, Histamine / Q000276:immunology*; D011970:Receptors, Histamine H2 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*
D007961:Leukocyte Migration-Inhibitory Factors; D011968:Receptors, Histamine; D011970:Receptors, Histamine H2; D002744:Chlorpheniramine; D002927:Cimetidine