Suppression of natural killer (NK) activity by splenic adherent cells of low NK-reactive mice

Adherent cells with the ability to inhibit NK activity were found in the spleens of young 8-week-old SJL/J mice. Such suppressor cells were also found in the spleens of other low-NK-reactive strains, but not in the spleen of age-matched high-NK-reactive strains. These suppressor cells had the characteristics of macrophages, since they were plastic- and nylon-adherent, phagocytosed latex and iron particles, and were resistant to treatment with anti-Thy-1.2 serum plus complement. Their inhibitory activity appeared to be due to their production and/or release of soluble suppressive factor(s). Their suppressor activity was similar to that of pyran copolymer-activated macrophages, which were previously shown to be suppressive for cytotoxicity by NK cells. We suggest here that macrophages may be involved in the physiological regulation of NK activity and may contribute to the low NK activity in some strains of mice.