title: [Increase of the "null cells" in children with persistent hepatitis (author's transl)].
abstract: Some membrane and functional properties of lymphocytes have been examined in a group of children affected with persistent hepatitis. Both absolute and percentage values of B lymphocytes (cells bearing surface Ig) were normal, whereas T lymphocytes (E rosette technique) were decreased in percentage but not as absolute numbers. Only in a close range of mitogen concentration PHA responsiveness was altered, and no modification was found in the percentage of EA and EAC rosettes. A marked increase in lymphocytes lacking both T and B cell markers was observed, which may be related to an increase in precursors of mature cells or to a masking of receptors on the membrane of lymphocytes, but which is probably independent of an increase in the number of K cells, since cells bearing receptors for the Fc fragment were normal.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology*; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007128:Immunoglobulin Fragments / Q000032:analysis; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D012397:Rosette Formation; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D007128:Immunoglobulin Fragments
vernacular_title: Aumento delle cellule "nulle" im bambini con epatite persistente.