LOSS OF SUPPRESSOR FUNCTION AS A CAUSE OF LYMPHOID MALIGNANCY

Different lymphoid-cell populations have been shown to interact in various immunological responses. A lymphoid-cell population that is capable of suppressing humoral and cellular immunity has been demonstrated. It is proposed that suppressor cells normally regulate continued lymphoid hyperplasia in response to various stimuli. In the absence of suppressor function, unregulated proliferation would ultimately lead to lymphoreticular malignancy. According to this mechanism, restoration of suppressor cells might prevent the development of lymphoreticular malignancies.