[Functional capacity of T-cell subpopulations of the mouse. Effect of unstimulated and allogenic stimulated T-cell subpopulations on Con A stimulation of splenic lymphocytes].

The distribution and the functional capacity of special subpopulations was examined by means of monoclonal anti-Lyt-1.2-, anti-Lyt-2.2-, anti-L3T4- and anti-Thy-1.2-antibodies. The proportion of Lyt-2+-cells increased after allogeneic stimulation of spleen cells compared with the Lyt-1+-cells. The proportion of L3T4+-cells did not change by allogeneic stimulation. Lyt-2- cells which were negatively selected by monoclonal antibody and complement effected the Con A stimulated 3H-thymidine incorporation of a spleen cell culture in a different way depending on their state of differentiation. While Lyt-2--cells selected from a fresh prepared spleen cell suspension increased the 3H thymidine incorporation, Lyt-2--cells selected from allogeneically stimulated cell suspension act as suppressor cells. The results demonstrate the dynamics in the functional capacity of the Lyt-2--T cell subpopulation depending on their state of differentiation.