The Journal of Immunology, Vol 143, Issue 11 3448-3454, Copyright © 1989 by American Association of Immunologists

ARTICLES

Suppression of antibody synthesis by CD4+ T cell clones and normal T cells stimulated with monoclonal anti-CD3 antibody

LS Silver, DW Scott and H Quill
Immunology Unit, University of Rochester Cancer Center, NY 14642.

CD4+ve Th1 clones, as well as normal splenic T cells, were found to suppress LPS-driven antibody secretion in a non-Ag-specific and non-MHC- restricted manner when the T cells were activated with the anti-CD3 mAb, 145-2C11. Suppression was observed with both primed and naive B cells, as well as with purified hapten-specific B cells, a result that suggests a direct effect of anti-CD3-activated T cells on B cell differentiation. Th1 clones activated by cognate Ag also suppressed LPS- driven antibody secretion. Furthermore, suppression of LPS-driven antibody secretion could be achieved across a cell-impermeable porous membrane when T cells were activated with anti-CD3. Suppression by Th1 clones and by normal T cells could not be attributed to a concomitant decrease in B cell proliferation or to a shift in the kinetics or isotype of the antibody response. These data demonstrate that CD4+ve Th1 clones, as well as normal T cells, can effect suppression of polyclonal antibody formation.