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Clinical and Experimental Immunology logoLink to Clinical and Experimental Immunology
. 1988 Aug;73(2):236–241.

Characterization of lymphocytes that suppress IL-2 production in systemic lupus erythematosus.

M Linker-Israeli 1, J D Gray 1, F P Quismorio Jr 1, D A Horwitz 1
PMCID: PMC1541602  PMID: 2972425

Abstract

IL-2 production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBM) is decreased in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This defect can be reversed by the removal of CD8+ lymphocytes. The purpose of these studies was to determine whether the CD8+ IL-2 suppressor cells comprise a specific subset or whether all CD8+ cells have this activity. Lymphocyte subsets were identified and separated by two-colour flow cytometry prior to a 48 h mitogen stimulation. The CD8+ cells that suppressed IL-2 production co-expressed HLA DR and were radiosensitive. Other markers co-expressed by CD8+ cells which are found on suppressor cells such as Leu 15 (CD11), Leu 11 (CD16), and Leu 7 were also found on the CD8+ IL-2 suppressor cell population in SLE. In healthy subjects, removal of CD16+, but not of CD8+ cells markedly elevated the production of IL-2. The CD8- CD16+ non-T cell subset suppressed IL-2 production by normal and SLE PBM in autologous and allogeneic combinations. This subset may be a human equivalent of the murine natural suppressor cells. These results demonstrate that the cells that suppress IL-2 production in SLE are heterogeneous, and suggest that they belong to more than one lineage.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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