Regulatory mechanisms in cytotoxic T lymphocyte development. I. A suppressor T cell subset that regulates the proliferative stage of CTL development.

The alloantigen-induced suppressor function of cells from 3-day mixed leukocyte culture (MLC) was studied. These cells, when co-cultured with normal syngeneic lymphocytes and cells of the same haplotype as the original inducing alloantigen, inhibited the generation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). Suppression was mediated by a radiation-resistant Lyt-2+ T cell. The suppressor T cells appeared to act by inhibiting the clonal expansion of CTL precursors in the responder cell population, determined by limiting dilution analysis. Levels of endogenous interleukin 2 (IL 2) in co-cultures with suppressor T cells were diminished, and the addition of exogenous IL 2 to co-cultures cancelled the suppressor T cell effects. The suppressor cell population was shown to be capable of absorbing IL 2 from lymphokine preparations, and in contrast to mitogen-induced suppressor T cells, after exposure to IL 2 the allostimulated suppressor T cell remains active. The results are discussed in terms of possible modes of action of the suppressor T cell.