[A study of the initial suppressor function of lymphocytes]

The new method for analysis of initial suppressor lymphocyte function in newly isolated monocultures is based on quantitative cytofluorometric analysis of early mitogen-induced activation of B lymphocytes in the presence of prednisolone that switches off a T lymphocyte immunoregulatory effect. Suppressor lymphocytes monitor B lymphocyte exit into proliferative pool and early processes of nuclear chromatin activation. The levels of initial suppressor lymphocyte function and lymphocytic proliferative activity are in inverse correlation. Suppressor lymphocyte function has been essentially reduced in rheumatoid arthritis patients as against normal subjects. A reduction as low as 70 percent of the normal value (recorded in 1/3 of the patients) is compensated with unchanged regulatory control over B cells, and reduction as low as 40 percent of the normal value (in 2/3 of the patients) is characterized by loss of regulatory control and B cell hyperactivation.