Active T rosettes, human autologous T rosettes, OKT8 and OKT4 cells, con A-induced suppressive activity, and autoantibodies: clinical correlations.

Correlations between various T-cell subsets: OKT4, OKT8, TEh (human autologous T rosettes), and TEa (active T rosettes) cells and the concanavalin A-induced suppressor function assessed on Con A proliferation have been analyzed in 46 patients with various secondary immunological disorders. The different T subsets and the suppressive activity were also compared in patients with and without autoantibodies. Significant positive correlations were found between T-cell markers TEa-OKT8 and TEh-OKT4. Significant inverse correlations were also found between Con A-induced suppressive activity-OKT4/OKT8 ratios, and TEa-OKT4/OKT8 ratios suggesting that the subpopulations identified by the active T rosettes are probably involved in T immunoregulatory mechanisms. There was no association between the Con A-induced suppressive function or the T markers TEa, OKT4, and OKT8, and the presence of autoantibodies. Only subjects with autoantibodies had a lower percentage of T lymphocytes forming autologous rosettes. These observations emphasize the fact that lack of correlation may exist between markers or function and immune status in some patients.