Communicative interactions between subpopulations of human T lymphocytes required for generation of suppressor effector function in a primary antibody response.

The cellular interactions necessary for generation of human T suppressor effector function were examined in a primary in vitro antigen-specific anti-DNP antibody-forming system. During the induction of the anti-DNP response, it was found that T cells of both T4+ and T8+ subsets were necessary to suppress antibody formation, whereas after activation, only the T8+ subset was required. Thus, a population of T4+ T cells appears to be necessary to activate or induce a subset of T8+ cells to suppress. The T4+ suppressor inducer population, like the resting or activated T8+ suppressor effector subset, was sensitive to low dose irradiation. Moreover, the radiosensitive T4+ subset and the previously defined T4+JRA+ subset were shown to be functionally similar or complementary in that both were required for generation of suppressor effector function. These findings suggest that T-T interactions between radiosensitive T4+JRA+ T cells and radiosensitive T8+ T cells are necessary for suppression of primary antigen-specific antibody production in man.