Suppressor T-lymphocyte activity in wheezy children with and without treatment by hyposensitization

The suppressor cell activity of peripheral blood lymphocytes was investigated in wheezy children by determining the ability of concanavalin A induced suppressor cells to inhibit a mitogen provoked proliferative response. The activity was compared with that of eighteen healthy controls. Of ten infants aged from 5 months to 4 1/2 years, with recurrent wheezy bronchitis, three had much reduced suppressor cell activity (2 s.d. or more below that of controls). Of twelve asthmatic children aged from 4 1/2 to 12 years, seven had much reduced suppressor cell activity. The remaining five asthmatic children with normal suppressor cell activity had all received hyposensitization therapy. We speculate that immune hyposensitization therapy might act by stimulating lymphocyte suppressor activity.