Reversal of Common Variable Hypogammaglobulinemia-Associated Suppressor Cell Activity by Specific Carbohydrates

Summary

Patients with common variable hypogammaglobulinemia (CVH) often have circulating suppressor cells that profoundly inhibit normal immunoglobulin (Ig) production in vitro. We have examined the nature of signals operating in the interaction between CVH-associated suppressor cells and their targets, and explored the possibility that lectin-like receptor molecules and their specific sugars might contribute to the specificity of these interactions. When D-mannose was added to suppressed cocultures of normal PWM-activated mononuclear cells and patient T cells a significant enhancement of Ig production was observed. N-acetyl-D-glucosamine had a similar enhancing effect when added to suppressed cocultures of normal mononuclear cells and patient non-T cells. Since D-mannose and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine did not enhance Ig production by normal cells when cultured alone, these sugars were interfering with the process of suppression. In contrast, a number of other saccharides had no effect on suppression. These results suggest that selected saccharides may represent critical components in the cellular receptors involved in suppressor cell interactions.