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Immunosuppressive lymphokine derived from natural suppressor cells
1Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, CA 94305.
Journal of Immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950)
|April 15, 1988
Summary
Induced natural suppressor (NS) cells secrete an immunosuppressive lymphokine, termed NS factor, which inhibits mixed lymphocyte reactions (MLR) without antigen specificity. This factor is a protein larger than 50,000 Da.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Natural suppressor (NS) cells play a role in immune regulation.
- Understanding the mechanisms of NS cell-mediated suppression is crucial for immune modulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential of cloned NS cells to secrete immunosuppressive factors.
- To characterize the properties of the secreted immunosuppressive factor.
Main Methods:
- Cloned NS cells were induced with phorbol ester (PMA) and calcimycin.
- Supernatants from induced NS cells were collected and tested for immunosuppressive activity in mixed lymphocyte reactions (MLR).
- Characterization involved protease digestion, dialysis, and heat/pH stability assays.
Main Results:
- Supernatants from induced NS cells suppressed MLR between normal spleen cells.
- Suppression was not antigen-specific or H-2 restricted.
- The suppressive activity was attributed to a heat-stable protein factor (NS factor) with a molecular size between 50,000 and 100,000 Da.
Conclusions:
- NS cell clones can be induced to secrete an immunosuppressive lymphokine (NS factor).
- NS factor exhibits broad immunosuppressive activity on MLR.
- NS factor represents a novel immunosuppressive molecule with potential therapeutic applications.