Balance between helper and suppressor activities

In normal, healthy individuals, there is a balance between helper and suppressor activities. Many immunodeficiency syndromes appear to be caused by a disturbance of this balance such that a state of unresponsiveness is created. This could result from either a lack of helper activity or an excess of suppressor activity. Conversely, autoimmunity, which results from aberrant responses directed at the host's own antigens, could result from abnormal immunoregulation from either excessive helper or reduced suppressor activities. (From Boggs, DR, and Winkelstein, A: White Cell Manual, ed 4. FA Davis, Philadelphia, 1983, p 71, with permission.)