Immunological aspects of psoriasis: V. T. cell subsets and suppressor cell functions regulating immune responses in peripheral blood.

T cell subsets bearing Fc-receptors for either IgG (TG) or IgM (TM), and suppressor cell activity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells on in vitro lymphoproliferative responses were studied in patients with untreated psoriasis. The proportions of TG and TM cells were unmodified in 15 patients compared to 15 control subjects studied in parallel experiments. The concanavalin A-induced suppressor cell activity, as well as the spontaneous suppressor cell function of in vitro short-lived adherent cells, were in the normal range for 7 out of 8 psoriatic patients investigated. The data argue against the possibility that a generalized suppressor cell defect occurs in psoriasis.