Complement components on the surface of normal human lymphocytes

The relationship between pregnancy, HCS and B lymphocytes

The quantitative distribution of the lymphocyte subpopulations (B, T and null) and the serum concentrations of Human Chorionic Somatomammotropin (HCS), immunoglobulins IgG, IgM and IgA, complement component C4 and C1 inactivator, were estimated in venous blood samples from 32 women at various stages of pregnancy and compared with a control series of 7 non-pregnant normal women. A significant decline in the B cell percentage during pregnancy was seen. The fall in the percentage of the B lymphocytes was found to be concomitant with the rise in HCS concentration. No significant changes in the other parameters studied were present.

B, T and null lymphocytes in newborn infants and their mothers

Estimation of B, T and null cells were performed on 29 newborn healthy babies and 16 mothers. The lymphocytes were isolated from peripheral venous blood, which is considered to be more representative of the immune state in the newborn than the cord blood. B lymphocytes were estimated by cytofluorometric measurements, T lymphocytes by sheep red blood cell rosette technique, (SRBC-R). Combined immunofluorescence and SRBC-R technique revealed the null cells. In the newborn babies the amount of B and T cells were found to be diminished. In the mothers the amount of B lymphocytes were low compared with normal adults. The rather high null cell percentage found in the babies might represent immature precursor cells. Mothers seem to be immuno-depressed as reflected in the low amount of B cells.