Functional analysis of human T cell subsets defined by monoclonal antibodies. I. Collaborative T-T interactions in the immunoregulation of B cell differentiation.

T-B and T-T interactions involved in the regulation of PWM-triggered human B cell differentiation were studied in vitro. Functionally distinct human T cell subsets were isolated by C-mediated lysis by using the monoclonal antibodies OKT4 and OKT8. Graded numbers of either untreated or irradiated T cell subsets were added to autologous B cells, and total antibody synthesis was measured after 5 to 6 days of culture by using a highly sensitive reverse hemolytic plaque assay. The data indicate that a) the helper activity that is exclusively contained within the OKT4+ population is radiosensitive. Only at high T/B ratios can this radiosensitivity be overcome; b) the OKT8+ population contains radiosensitive cells important in suppressing B cell differentiation, and c) the suppression induced with OKT8+ cells requires the presence of radiosensitive OKT4+ cells. Thus, OKT8+ cells added to cultures containing B cells and irradiated OKT4+ cells do not suppress the PFC response. Addition of unirradiated OKT4+ cells to these cultures permits reexpression of suppression by OKT8+ cells. It is concluded that two radiosensitive cells, one within the OKT4+ population and the other within the OKT8+ population, collaborate to induce suppression. Possible mechanisms for this suppressive interaction including induction of suppressor precursor cells within the OKT4+ population or inhibition of OKT4+ helper cells by OKT8+ cells are discussed.