Phenotypic characteristics of peripheral blood T cells regulating colony growth by nontransformed human B lymphocytes.

The phenotypic characteristics of peripheral blood T cell subpopulations regulating human B cell colony growth stimulated by Staph protein A were investigated. Colony growth was facilitated by OKT4 cells, and T cells expressing DR antigens were found to be partially responsible for colony facilitation. A linear increase in the magnitude of colony growth was observed with greater T cell numbers, and maximal colony enhancement occurred when T cells were present during the early stages of colony formation. OKT8 cells did not enhance colony growth and also inhibited the facilitation of colony formation by OKT4 cells. Other experiments showed that the functional activities of OKT4 and OKT8 cells differed in their requirements for DNA synthesis. Although active T cell DNA synthesis was absolutely required for the facilitation of colony growth at all concentrations tested, DNA synthesis was not needed for OKT8 inhibition of OKT4 promotion of colony formation. Thus, distinct T cell subsets whose functional properties differ in their requirements for DNA synthesis regulate human colony growth.