E-rosette receptors induced by phytohemagglutinin on human K cells expressing T-cell surface antigens

Effector cell sensitivity to sugar moieties. I. Inhibition of human natural killer cell activity by monosaccharides

Human natural killer (NK) cells recognize multiple target antigens. The ligands (antigens) involved in the effector-target cell interaction have not been extensively identified. In the present study, assays of NK activity in the presence of a panel of monosaccharides demonstrated inhibition of cytolysis in a dose-response fashion. We propose that NK cell activity involves the recognition of carbohydrate structures on target cells via receptors on the effector cell surface.

Investigations on blood and cerebrospinal fluid lymphocytes in patients suffering from tick-borne encephalitis

This paper deals with the immuno-pathological characteristics of tick-borne encephalitis. With the appearance of neurological signs, there is a strong T cell reaction in th peripheral blood. The following seven days are characterized by the appearance of specific cell-mediated reaction in the peripheral blood; in the cell-mediated reaction in the peripheral blood; in the cerebrospinal fluid, an increasing number of B cells and specific antibodies can be detected. After a week, the percent positivity of cell-mediated immune reactions is higher and there is a T cell dominance in the cerebrospinal fluid. Intact cellular immunity against specific antigen is required for the management of this disease. There are major differences in the results obtained from patients suffering from meningitis alone and those suffering from meningoencephalitis.

Anti-ovarian and anti-lymphocyte antibodies in patients with chronic vaginal candidiasis

Seventeen of 30 patients with chronic vaginal candidiasis (CVC) of at least 5 years duration had varying degrees of menstrual problems and defective T lymphocyte function; 8 developed amenorrhea. In a group of 40 CVC patients, titers of autoantibodies to ovary, thymocytes, a T-cell line (CCRF-CEM), and a B-cell line (RN114) were significantly higher than those in 45 normal females (69 +/- 3 vs. 5 +/- 2, 70 +/- 27 vs. 4 +/- 2, l7 +/- 6, vs. 4 +/ 2, and 73 +/- 24 vs. 8 +/- 5, respectively, mean +/- S.E.). Antibody titers to sperm, T-cell line HSB-2, and B-cell lines RAJI and BALL-1 were within the normal range. Significant correlations were found between anti-Candida, anti-ovarian, and anti-thymocyte antibody titers. Similar results were found for 6 patients with chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis (CMCC) and in serial samples obtained over a one-year period from a representative patient with both CVC and CMCC. The anti-T-lymphocyte antibodies in these patients were directed primarily against non-suppressor (predominately helper) T cells. Absorption of the sera with either Candida cells, ovarian follicle cells, or thymocytes reduced all three antibody titers; absorption with sperm or B-cell lines did not alter the titers. These results suggest the presence of one or more cross-reactive antigens on ovarian follicle, T lymphocytes (especially the helper cell subpopulation), and Candida.

E receptors and T antigens are different antigenic entities on human T lymphocytes

ATS contains antibodies of different specificity directed against E receptors and T specific antigens, respectively. E-receptors are trypsin-sensitive, T-antigens are trypsin-resistant. Absorption of ATS with trypsinized thymocytes thus removes anti-T, but leaves anti-E antibodies unaffected. The rosette inhibitory potential of the absorbed antiserum (anti-E) remains unaltered. Immunization with trypsinized thymocytes on the other hand results in the production of anti T-cell sera highly specific in immunofluorescence and cytotoxicity tests without contaminating anti-E antibodies and, therefore, also lacking any rosette inhibitory capacity. E receptors and T antigens are independently mobile within the cell membrane as shown by differential capping.

Immunochemical characterization of a human B lymphocyte differentiation antigen (p65)

A human B-cell differentiation antigen (BDA-1) with a molecular weight of 65,000 was identified by use of an anti-B-cell xenoantiserum. BDA-1 was isolated by immunoprecipitation of cell lysates from a B-lymphoblastoid cell line (SB) and from blood B lymphocytes (sIg+ER-) of four normal individuals. It was not detectable in cell membrane lysates from two T-lymphoblastoid cell lines (HSB-2 and MOLT-3) or from enriched normal T cells (sIg-ER+). BDA is single-chain molecule since its migration in SDS-PAGE gels was not altered by heating the protein to 100 degree C or by treatment with 2-mercaptoethanol. Immunodepletion experiments demonstrated that the antigen recognized by anti-BDA xenoantiserum has neither structural nor antigenic relationships with Ia-like antigen or beta 2-microglobulin.

Synthesis and secretion of cystic fibrosis ciliary dyskinesia substances by purified subpopulations of leukocytes

Cultured peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) from individuals homozygous or heterozygous for the defective gene causing the inherited disease cystic fibrosis (CF) secrete three different ciliary dyskinesia substances (CDS), which can be detected by their activity in vitro in a rabbit mucociliary bioassay. Their PBL also release substances that promote mucus expulsion and destruction of the ciliated epithelium. In the present study the relative numbers of lymphocytes (T, B, and null), monocytes-macrophages (Mphi), and polymorphonuclear neutrophils were found to be normal in subjects with the CF gene, as were the responses of their PBL to phytohemagglutinin and pokeweed mitogen. Using purified subpopulations of leukocytes, we obtained evidence that both monocytes and T lymphocytes can secrete CDS in vitro with no requirement for cooperation with other lymphocyte subsets, whereas B and "null" lymphocytes probably require either differentiation or cellular cooperation for optimal secretion of CDS. Mucus expulsion and tissue destruction were produced by substances released primarily from polymorphonuclear neutrophils and secondarily from Mphi. Using cycloheximide and actinomycin D, we obtained evidence that CDS accumulation requires active protein synthesis and is not dependent on newly synthesized RNA, at least in short-term cultures. Gel filtration chromatography of active culture supernates showed that T lymphocytes synthesized only a CF-specific CDS, whereas Mphi synthesized all three CDS found in PBL cultures. Evidence is presented that one CDS is related structurally to C3a, since it can be removed with rabbit antisera specific for human C3a.

Characterization of human lymphocytes which proliferate "spontaneously" in vitro

Human peripheral blood lymphocytes proliferate "spontaneously" in vitro following the reduction in the proportion of monocytes in culture. This cell proliferation, which takes place in the absence of any extrinsic antigenic stimulation, was found to reside in a small fraction of a non-T non-B cell population which was also Fc receptor-negative. Concomitant with the in vitro proliferation of the monocyte-depleted cells, an increase in the proportion of E rosette-forming cells was observed. Hence, in addition to the regulation of spontaneous proliferation of lymphocytes, it is suggested that monocytes may also be involved in the regulation of the proportion of T cells or in expression of the E-rosetting marker.

Ultrastructure and cytochemistry of human peripheral blood lymphocytes. Similarities between the cells of the third population and TG lymphocytes

The ultrastructural and cytochemical features of human peripheral blood TG cells (T cells with receptors IgG) and of the cells of the so-called third population (non-T, non-B cells with high avidity receptors for IgG) have been investigated and compared. Both TG and third-population cells (TPC) contained acid hydrolases with a paranuclear localization of alpha-naphthyl acid esterase, beta-glucuronidase or acid phosphatase. At the electron microscopy level, TG and TPC were indistinguishable and displayed rough cell surface, indented nuclei, abundant cytoplasm with predominance of the smooth over the rough membranes and peroxidase-negative granules. A large proportion of cells of the TPC could form rosettes with sheep erythrocytes after treatment with neuraminidase. The observed close similarities between TG and TPC may suggest that both cell types belong to a special subset of T cells. However, the alternative hypothesis that both TG and TPC are part of a subset unrelated to T cells, such as a new non-T, non-B cell population, or even of the monocytic-macrophage lineage, is also discussed.

Lymphocyte subpopulations in man: characterization of in vivo-educated, alloreactive, cytotoxic lymphocytes

Alloreactive cytotoxic lymphocytes present in peripheral blood of two normal humans have been studied by rosette fractionation experiments. It is shown that the effector cells, have receptors for SRBC, low avidity FcR, are nylon non-adherent and without CR. These results reveal a phenotype of membrane markers which is very much like the phenotypes of the major part of K cells, NK cells and the effector cells in mitogen induced cell-mediated cytotoxicity, indicating a common ancestor in the immune system. From a functional point of view all these cytotoxic effector cells may be T cells, some specific others non specific, in parallel to T helper and suppressor lymphocytes.

Recent advances in human cellular immunobiology

Several recent advances in human cellular immunology will have increasing impact on surgical science. First, lymphocytes are composed of diverse subpopulations with different biological properties. Second, lymphocytes and phagocytes expressed distinctive cell surface markers that reflect the specialized function of each cell. Third, different subpopulations of lymphocytes probably have one or only a few specific functions rather than being multipotential. Despite the seemingly complex heterogeneity of the immune system, the component parts collaborate in a highly integrated fashion. The recent elucidation of suppressor cells and their interaction with effector cells, for example, is a major conceptual advance. Fourth, the technology of immunologic science has advanced significantly. More discriminating methods for detecting lymphocyte markers and the ability to physically separate and analyze lymphocyte subpopulations will permit increasingly more refined insights into normal and abnormal immune responses. A number of important advances at the molecular level involving the disciplines of immunogenetics and immunochemistry have also been described but are beyond the scope of this review. Much work remains, however, in correlating these in vitro observations in the laboratory with in viro activity in the patient. It is now evident that the outcome of an immune response (or lack of it) represents a net balance of different components in the immunologic network that determine the time course, intensity of response, and the actual mechanisms of antigen elimination. A better understanding of these component parts of a normal immune response, and their deviations in disease states, is essential for designing more sophisticated therapeutic manipulations of the immune system. Attempts at "immune manipulation" aimed at stimulating or depleting the entire system are no more likely to be successful or reproducible than are attempts to "manipulate" the entire endocrine system. More meaningful results will occur when one can deal with individual components of an immune response (such as suppression or killing) and can precisely monitor the consequences of altering them.