Surface markers on human lymphocytes: studies of normal subjects and of patients with primary immunodeficiencies

Peripheral blood lymphocytes of twenty normal controls and twelve patients with primary immunodeficiencies were examined for surface membrane Ig and receptors for C3 complement (B cell markers) and for spontaneous rosette formation with sheep erythrocytes (T cell markers). In patients with defects in T cell function no lymphocytes forming spontaneous rosettes were seen. In patients with B cell deficiency they were normal or increased. Lymphocytes with membrane immunoglobulins were normal in patients with T cell defect and absent in patients with severe agammaglobulinaemia. Lymphocytes with receptors for C3 complement were increased in patients with T defect and normal in patients with most other forms of immunodeficiency studied.

Surface markers on lymphocytes of patients with infectious diseases

PERIPHERAL BLOOD LYMPHOCYTES FROM NORMAL SUBJECTS AND PATIENTS WITH VIRAL AND BACTERIAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES WERE EXAMINED FOR THE PRESENCE OF THREE SURFACE MARKERS: (i) surface immunoglobulins, (ii) receptor for C3 complement component (EAC test), and (iii) spontaneous binding of sheep red blood cells (E rosette formation). The first two markers are used to detect bone marrow-derived lymphocytes (B cells); the E rosette formation is dependent on thymus-derived lymphocytes (T cells). We demonstrated these assumptions, as defined by others, by the fractionation of lymphocytes on bead columns coated with immunoglobulin plus anti-immunoglobulin. The peripheral blood lymphocytes of normal individuals consisted of 52% T cells, 23% B cells with EAC receptor, and 21% B cells with membrane immunoglobulin. There was no significant difference in these values from those obtained in viral or bacterial diseases. Only a few cases of infectious mononucleosis had an increase in T cells. These results give us a partial picture of the T- and B-cell frequency in normal subjects and in patients with infectious diseases.