Induction of suppressor activity in the autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction and in cultures with concanavalin A.

A C T T lymphocytes that are activated in the auitologous mixed lynmphocyte reaction (NILR) have suppressor activity.Coincanavalin A (Con A) auginenits the suppressor activity generated in cultures containing both T and non-T lymphocytes and can induce suppres- sor activity in T-lymphocyte preparations that contaiin too fewv (10%) nion-T cells to generate a significant autologotis MLR.However, when such T-lymiiphocyte preparations are further depleted of adherent cells and contain <2% non-T cells, Con A fails to induce sup- pressor activity.These findings suppoIt the concept that an autolgous NlLR may play an importanit role in generation of suppressor cells by Con A. INTRODLUCTIONHuLmlan T lymphocytes are stimulated by autologous non-T lymphocytes to proliferate in culture (1, 2).This phenomenon, termed the autologous mixed lymphocyte reactioni (NILR),1 suggested a mechanism by which T lymphocytes might maintain self-tolerance.This thesis is compatible with the observation (3, 4) that the autologous MLR is impaired in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.The defect in the autolgous MLR in these patients is a failure of non-T lymphocytes to stimulate the proliferation of autologous T lympho- cytes (4).The autologous MLR is also impaired in the murine model of this disease in NZB mice (5).Autoimmune phenomena associated with systemic lupus erythematosus in man and in diseased NZB mice This work was presented in part at the Annual Meeting of The American Society for Clinical Investigation, 7 May 1979.Dr. Weksler is the recipient of Research Career Development Award CA 32102 from the U. S. Public Health Service.