Suppressor T cells activated by autologous B-cell derived lines inhibit blastogenic responses by peripheral lymphocytes to mitogens or autologous lymphoblastoid cell lines

EBV-transformed B-cell lines (LCL) suppressed peripheral lymphocyte responses to mitogens (PHA, PWM, and protein A). Cell separation experiments have shown that LCL cells activate autologous radiosensitive suppressor T cells that inhibit T-cell responses to mitogens (PHA and Con A) and to the autologous lymphoblastoid cell line itself. The significance of this autologous response and the way it may reflect on the effect of the suppressor T cells on the regulation of potential autoimmune responses is considered in relation to the in vivo phenomena observed in the course of acute mononucleosis.