Monocyte/T-cell interactions in Con A induced suppressor activity.

It is well documented that peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) can exert a Con A induced suppressor activity. The PBMC content of monocytes and its impact on registered suppressor activity of PBMC populations was examined. It was found that monocytes were unnecessary for the Con A induction of PBMC, and monocytes exhibited no Con A dependent suppressor potential. Furthermore, the presence of monocytes was found to be unnecessary for the Con A activated lymphocytes in order to exert their suppressor activity against the responder system, i.e. a Con A stimulated lymphoblast-transformation.