INDUCTION OF SUPPRESSOR ACTIVITY IN ALLOSPECIFIC CYTOTOXIC T-LYMPHOCYTES

Several lines of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) specific both toward al l the antigens of H-2 complex and products of its individual subregion s were obtained. Simultaneous interaction of these CTL with the H-2K(b ) molecule (MHC class I antigen) and alpha(1)-thymosin resulted in lym phocyte transition to a reversible state of anergy. Such transition re quired an increased concentration of al-thymosin. Under anergy, these CTL exhibited specific suppressor activity, i.e., functional transform ation of CTL into T suppressors was observed.