Restoration of diminished splenic responses to phytohemagglutinin and concanavalin A in adjuvant-induced disease by corticosteroids: further evidence for the presence and pathogenetic role of two populations of splenic suppressor cells.

This study confirms observations that active adjuvant-induced disease is accompanied by diminished spleen cell responses to phytohemagglutinin and concanavalin A; and that these diminished responses are due to suppressor cells, some adherent only to glass, and others adherent to plastic or glass. Corticosteroid inhibition of adjuvant disease is accompanied by a diminution or absence of these splenic suppressor cells. Some of these suppressor cells are inhibited in vitro by corticosteroids, in preference to the mitogen-responsive cells. This suggests that suppressor cells may play a role in the pathogenesis of AID.