Suppressor T cells in myasthenia gravis and antibodies to acetylcholine receptor.

We cultured blood mononuclear cells of patients with myasthenia gravis both with and without removal of T8 suppressor cells. The levels of synthesized antibodies to acetylcholine receptor and IgG as well as the frequency of immunoglobulin-secreting cells were all higher in pokeweed mitogen-stimulated cultures depleted of T8+ cells. Thus, autologous suppressor cells within the T8+ population exert some regulatory control over antiacetylcholine receptor-producing cells in patients with myasthenia gravis.