Suppressor cells and immunodeficiency in (NZB x NZW)F1 hybrid mice

Old (15-20 month) male (NZB x NZW)F1 (B/W) mice have severely impaired spleen cell reactivity to phytohemagglutinin (PHA), a mitogen which stimulates mainly T lymphocytes. Spleen cells from old mice markedly suppressed the PHA response of splenocytes from young (3-4 month) B/W males. Similar suppressor activity was not present in the spleens of old mice of four nonautoimmune strains. The suppressor activity of old B/W spleen cells was mediated by a nonphagocytic, radioresistant, mononuclear leukocyte. Although this cell was eluted in the "T lymphocyte" fraction of nylon wool colums, it was not sensitive to treatment with anti-Thy-1 antiserum and complement. Suppressor activity was lost after 18 h incubation at 37 degrees C in tissue culture medium. Supernatants of these overnight cultures had no suppressive effect on fresh young B/W spleen cells. Old B/W spleen cells suppressed PHA reactivity more than concanavalin A or lipopolysaccharide reactivity. Kinetic studies demonstrated an increasing suppression with time over 72 h of culture. This study demonstrate that the severely impaired PHA reactivity of old B/W mice is mediated, at least in part, by active suppression.