Anergic T cells as suppressor cells in vitro.
T cell-mediated suppression is an established phenomenon, but its underlying mechanisms are obscure. An in vitro system was used to test the possibility that anergic T cells can act as specific suppressor cells. Anergic human T cells caused inhibition of antigen-specific and allospecific T cell proliferation. In order for the inhibition to occur, the anergic T cells had to be specific for the same antigen-presenting cells (APCs) as the T cells that were suppressed. The mechanism of this suppression appears to be competition for the APC surface and for locally produced interleukin-2.
Lombardi
G
G
Department of Immunology, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, London, UK.
Sidhu
S
S
Batchelor
R
R
Lechler
R
R
D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017635:Clonal Anergy; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000276:immunology; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000276:immunology
D007376:Interleukin-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4