Expression of OKT 8 antigen and Fc gamma receptors by suppressor cells mediating specific unresponsiveness between recipient and donor in renal-allograft-tolerant patients.

Renal allograft tolerant patients show specific unresponsiveness in mixed-lymphocyte culture assays when confronted with donor stimulating cells. Separation of posttransplant peripheral blood lymphocytes into Fc gamma + and Fc gamma - by rosetting and into OKT8+, OKT8- by cytofluorometry enabled the demonstration of normal responses by Fc gamma - and OKT8- cells, whereas the proliferation of OKT8+ and Fc gamma + cells was depressed specifically in the presence of donor cells. Using mixing experiments, we showed that OKT8+ and Fc gamma + posttransplant lymphocytes exert a suppressive effect specific to the donor-recipient pair on the proliferative response of the pretransplant lymphocytes.