Application of T and B cell markers in the analysis of immunodeficiency status.

Presence of human thymus lymphocyte antigen (HTLA) detected by im munofluorescence, spontaneous rosette formation with sheep erythrocytes (E rosette), rosette formation with erythrocytes sensitized with 19S antibody and complement (EAC rosette) and cell surface immunoglobulin by membrane im munofluorescence (S-Ig) were used to characterize lymphocyte subpopulations. S-Ig positive cell was absent while the lymphocytes with C3 and/or IgG.Fc receptors were observed in 20-30% in 11 cases of infantile agammaglobulinemia. 11 patients with severe combined immunodeficiency were tested. They were quite heterogenous in respect to the numbers of lymphocytes having T or B cell markers; almost only null cells were observed in some and a number of B or/and T cells were present in other, although both cell mediated and humoral immune responses were impaired in all. 6 selective IgA deficiency showed different IgA-B cell profile. IgA-B cells were decreased in 2, normal in 3 and increased in 1. Numbers of T and B cells were quite normal in most of 17 patients with variable immunodeficiency, though their functions as judged by delayed hyper sensitivity in vitro PHA response, and humoral antibody responses were some times impaired. Although immunodeficiency status is not homogenous in ataxia telangiecta sia, in vitro PHA response and delayed hepersensitivity reaction were impaired and absolute number of T cells were decreased in 4 cases tested. Cytoxan reduced selectively B cells in the peripheral blood. ACTH influenced on circulating T cells probably via adrenal steroids. Re duction of T cells seemed due mostly to sequestration of these cells, T cell reduction in blood was observed in various viral infections, especially in measles. Disappearance of circulating T cells by measles infection seemed to be caused at least partly by also sequestration.