Suppression of T cell responses through competition for T cell growth factor (interleukin 2)

Addition of activated T cells or of cells from a cytotoxic T cell clone to mixed leukocyte cultures abolished the generation of cytolytic activity in these cultures. The cytolytic T cell response is completely restored if T cell growth factor (interleukin 2) is added, indicating that the suppression is due to absorption or consumption of IL2 by the added cells.