Accessory cell damage and loss of overall white cell viability inhibit lymphocyte responses after ultraviolet-B irradiation but without evidence of in vitro suppression

The effect of different doses of ultraviolet B irradiation (UVR) on the proliferative responses of Balb/c spleen cells has been tested. In 72-hour cultures, there was dose-dependent suppression of proliferation in response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA). Cell viability after UVR was found to be reduced in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Proliferation increased by greater than 100 percent after low-dose (20 J/m2) UVR when either normal or gamma-irradiated peritoneal cells were added to the cultures, but not at higher doses. Delaying UVR until 24 hours after stimulation of cultures with PHA did not substantially increase 3H]-thymidine uptake. Stimulation of mixtures of UV-irradiated and control cells or incorporation of medium conditioned with UV-irradiated cells provided no evidence of suppression of proliferation. The accessory cell population is an important target for UVR, but cells are physically damaged to the extent that, at higher doses, the response to PHA stimulation cannot be restored.