Restoration of diminished T-cell function in adjuvant induced disease by methotrexate: evidence for two populations of splenic T-cell suppressors.

Diminished splenic T-cell function, as measured by their response to phytohemagglutinin and Concanavalin-A, was noted only during the active phase of adjuvant induced disease. This diminished function is due to at least two types of suppressor cell: (a) cells which adhere to glass but not plastic, and which are sensitive to methotrexate in vitro; (b) cells which adhere to plastic and glass, and which are relatively insensitive to methotrexate in vitro. Methotrexate treatment in vivo inhibits adjuvant induced disease, and is associated with the absence of both types of suppressor cells in the spleen.