lnterleukin-2 Stimulates the Development of Anergy via the Activation of Nonspecific Suppressor T Cells.

We have previously demonstrated that incubation of splenic lymphocytes from an unimmunized mouse with IL-2 IFN-α or γ resulted in the development of a population of nonspecific regulatory cells (Ts). These cells were shown to block the ability of lymphocytes to generate mixed-lymphocyte responses in vitro. In the studies reported here, we have investigated the cell populations involved in this phenomenon.

Cytokine effects on the down regulation of cytolytic T cell responses in vitro.

Lymphocytes from mouse and men can be stimulated by a variety of cellular signals including concanavalin A and the interferons to generate cells capable of non-specific down regulation of the generation of immune responses. The studies reported here extend this finding to show that such regulatory cells are also generated during the course of a mixed lymphocyte response and following stimulation of the CD3 component of the T cell receptor with anti-CD3 antibody. Regulatory activity was assessed by the addition of putative regulatory cells to mixed lymphocyte cultures and measuring the generation of cytolytic T cell activity in these cultures.