The induction of suppressor T cells by concanavalin A is independent of cellular proliferation and protein synthesis.
Factors that govern the induction of suppressor T cells after stimulation with concanavalin A (Con A) were investigated in a two-stage culture system. Normal mouse spleen cells were incubated with Con A in the presence of a variety of drugs and then assayed for suppressive activity by means of a secondary anti-sheep erythrocyte response in vitro. The inclusion of inhibitors of mitosis (vinblastine sulphate or mytomycin C) or protein synthesis (cycloheximide or pactamycin) into normal spleen cell cultures containing Con A failed to inhibit the subsequent development of suppressor cells. Furthermore, spleen cells from mice previously irradiated with 900 rad or injected with cyclophosphamide expressed a level of suppressor activity after Con A stimulation which was equivalent to that of normal spleen cells. However, the inclusion of drugs that inhibit microtubule or microfilament function (colchicine or cytocholasin B) did prevent suppressor cell induction. Kinetic studies also revealed that significant suppressor activity was detectable in normal spleen cells after only 3 h exposure to Con A. These results indicate that the induction of suppressor T cells in this system is a maturation event involving changes in the cell membrane and is entirely independent of protein synthesis and cellular proliferation.