The effect of tonsillar T cell subpopulations in antigen-specific lymphocyte proliferative response. Evidence of T cell suppression.

The presence of specific T cell subsets in tonsils, during in vitro generation of peripheral blood lymphocyte proliferative response was investigated. Tonsil T cells were selected for their activity with the monoclonal antibodies OKT4 and OKT8. The suppressor cell assay revealed the effects of tonsillar T cell subpopulations identified as OKT4- and OKT8-. The OKT8- had no inhibitory effects on proliferation of peripheral lymphocytes by Dermatophagoides farinae antigen in vitro.