Inhibition of lymphocyte proliferative responses to Helicobacter pylori by plastic adherent cells
Uyub, A.M.; Anuar, A.K.
Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health 32(1): 88-94
2001
ISSN/ISBN: 0125-1562 PMID: 11485102 Document Number: 526786
A study was carried out on 49 Helicobacter pylori-positive and 11 H. pylori-negative patients, in Malaysia, to determine the reactivity of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) and acid glycine extract (AGE) of H. pylori, and to identify cells responsible for immunosuppression . Based on response to PHA stimulation, cell-mediated immunity of all patients were competent. In some patients, however, response to AGE of H. pylori was suppressed by plastic adherent cells. This study provided evidence of the presence of plastic adherent suppressor cells which suppressed PBL response to AGE of H. pylori but not to PHA suggesting that immunosuppression is antigen specific. There is also an indication that immunosuppression may be species-specific as PBL devoid of plastic adherent cells only responded to stimulation by AGE of H. pylori but not that to AGE of C. jejuni.