Suppressor cell function in respiratory allergy. Modulation by aminophylline and isoproterenol.

The status of suppressor cells in patients with allergic rhinitis or asthma was studied. This latter group showed absent concanavalin A (ConA)-inducible suppressor cell function as measured by proliferative responses to pokeweed mitogen (PWM) and decreased function as measured by responses to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) or ConA. Patients with rhinitis showed values intermediate between normals and asthmatics. Similarly, preincubation in medium enhanced proliferative responses in normal and rhinitis patients but not in asthmatics, suggesting an absence of a short-lived suppressor cell population in the latter group. Suppressor cell function correlated negatively with log10 of serum IgE concentrations. Theophylline-sensitive suppressor cell numbers were slightly decreased in rhinitis patients and significantly so in asthmatics (p less than 0.01). In vitro preincubation of normal lymphocytes with aminophylline or isoproterenol (10 micrograms/ml) enhanced subsequent proliferative responses to PWM. Little enhancement was observed with cells from rhinitis patients, and actual depression was seen with cells from asthmatics, suggesting abnormal immunomodulatory effects of cyclic-AMP active drugs in this group of patients.