Allospecific suppression without requirement for participation of Ly 2+ cells

Haplotype-specific suppressor T cells (Ts) were induced by incubation of mouse spleen/lymph node cells with allogeneic heat-treated cells. These Ts have an Ly 1+2- phenotype, and can be activated in cultures depleted of Ly 2+ cells by treatment with anti-Ly 2 antibodies and complement. In addition, these Ts inhibit alloantigen-induced proliferation of Ly 1+2- cells without the participation of Ly 2+ cells. These results show that allospecific suppressor T cells can be activated and can act without participation of Ly 2+, thus demonstrating that Ly 1+2- cells can directly suppress proliferation of other Ly 1+2- cells.