title: Studies on T cells in newborns. Higher reactivity of umbilical cord blood lymphocytes to PHA as measured by whole blood microtechnique.
abstract: The capacity of human foetal lymphocytes to respond to PHA and to form E-rosettes have been compared with data from adult individuals. For this purpose a microculture system that uses whole blood and avoids the problems of lymphocyte separation, has been developed. Foetal lymphocytes reached optimal stimulation with lower dosis of PHA (31,2 microgram/ml) as compared with adult cells (125-252 microgram/ml). However their quantitative response (measured by 14C-thymidine uptake) was equal in both groups. In addition, peripheral T cells (E-rosetting cells) reached values of 36.47 +/- 9% in newborn and 49.6 +/- 10% in normal adult controls. These results are discussed as to the status and development of cellular inmunity in human foetus.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D046508:Culture Techniques; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D037102:Lectins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008832:Microchemistry / Q000379:methods; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D037102:Lectins