Modification by Suppressor Cells and Serum Factors of the Cell-Mediated Immune Response in Experimental Pyelonephritis

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Abstract

A marked suppression of the thymusderived (T)-lymphocyte response to concanavalin A has been demonstrated in vitro during renal infection. Suppression of the T-lymphocyte response in vitro was seen as early as 2 h after the induction of renal infection, but maximum suppression was found 24-72 h later. A population of suppressor cells in the splenic lymphocyte population, generated during the host's response to infection, contributed to the depressed lymphocyte response. Removal of suppressor cells restored the mitogenic responsiveness of the remaining splenic lymphocytes. Conversely, in co-culture experiments, a suppressor cell present in the splenic lymphocyte population of pyelonephritic animals was shown to be capable of suppressing the mitogenic responsiveness of normal splenic lymphocytes. Significantly reduced host vs. graft responses by the pyelonephritic animals confirmed, in vivo, the depression of cell-mediated immune mechanisms.

Authors

Thomas Miller, Lesley Scott, Elaine Stewart, Derek North