Subpopulations of mouse spleen lymphocytes. III. Cellular interactions in the response to concanavalin A.

The profile of response to concanavalin A (con A) of purified mouse T cells was found to differ appreciably from that of non-fractionated spleen cells, in agreement with results previously published by other investigators. Experiments designed to elucidate the reasons underlying these differences have revealed that the response of the spleen cells to con A is determined by a complex interplay between several cell types. (a) B cells contribute to the overall incorporation of thymidine in the presence of con A-stimulated T cells. However, the B cells participate in the response only if the T cells are dividing. (b) A population of 'adherent cells' is present in the spleen, which enhances the stimulation of the spleen cells by low doses of con A but suppresses the response to high doses of mitogen. These adherent cells include most likely the conventional macrophages, but probably also a population of 'suppressor T cells'. (c) Such 'suppressor T' cells can be readily detected among the peritoneal exudate cells. Addition of the exudate cells to cultures of purified T cells enhances the response to low doses of con A. This effect can be further increased by treating the peritoneal cells with a cell T-specific antiserum and complement, i.e. by eliminating the T cells.