Separation of helper and suppressor T lymphocytes on a ficoll velocity sedimentation gradient

A 5-20% Ficoll velocity sedimentation gradient has been successfully applied to separate concanavalin A (Con A)-induced helper; and suppressor T cells. When titrated into a constant number of fresh normal spleen cells responding to sheep erythrocytes, cells from the top pool show stimulatory effects while those from the bottom pool show inhibitory activity. Both activities are found to be Con A dependent and anti-theta sensitive. We conclude that Con A-induced helper and suppressor T cells are distinct subpopulations and such separation will allow further characterization of these cell types.