[Suppressor cells of mitogen responses during rheumatoid polyarthritis]

The suppressor activity of mononuclear cells of the peripheral blood (MCPB) during rheumatoid polyarthritis (RP) was studied using experimental protocole. The MCPB stimulated in vitro by concanavaline A (Con A) are capable of suppressing the mitogenis response of autologus cells; moreover, the short-lived spontaneous suppressor cells disappear during 24 hour in vitro incubation that determines an increase in the proliferative response of the incubated cells for 24 hours. In two of the six RP studied, the suppressor activity generated Con A and the spontaneous suppressor activity are nul. Culture experiments with the MCPB of PR and control subjects show that this defect in suppressor activity is more related to a problem in the generation of suppressor cells than to a deficiency in the response to suppressor signals.