Effect of irradiation on Concanavalin A-induced suppression of mitogen responses in human lymphocyte cultures

Concanavalin a (Con A)-induced and Con A-inducible human suppressor lymphocytes were examined for their radiosensitivity (16 Gy). It was observed that X-ray exposure of Con A-induced suppressor cells abolished some of the suppressive activity. Exposure of lymphocyte preparations did not prevent the subsequent induction by Con A of suppressor cells capable of inhibiting mitogen responses of lymphocytes. The relative size of the Con A-inducible suppressor population in the blood was not changed in breast cancer patients after local radiation therapy.