Suppressor T cells in low zone tolerance. II. Characterization of suppressor T and amplifier cells by physical and serological methods.

Suppressor cells involved in low zone tolerance to bacteriophage fd have been characterized by serological and physical methods. Suppressor T cells are peripheral T2 cells which are Ly-1-, Ly-2+ and Ia+. They are of high electrophoretic mobility, sediment 5 mm/h at 1 x g in a linear Ficoll 70 gradient, but are not restricted to a distinct band in a discontinuous bovine serum albumin gradient. Adherent phagocytic cells of low electrophoretic mobility can act as amplifier cells with a much shorter half-life than suppressor T cells.