title: Enhanced T-cell rosette formation in shigellosis by the in vitro use of thymopoietin.
abstract: The results from this study suggest that the large nul cell lymphocyte population seen in patients with Shigella dysentery, does contain a sub-population of cells that will respond in vitro to thymopoietin, a bovine thymic extract, by increased E-rosette formation. It is felt that this sub-population is in fact immature T-cells. A previous study has shown that an unusual leukaemoid reaction develops in a substantial number of patients with Shigella dysentery. The leukaemoid response was primarily granulocytic in nature but there was also a substantial increase in the mean number of lymphocytes. The proportion of the various populations of lymphocytes from leukaemoid and non-leukaemoid subjects were altered, B-cells remained constant, while the T-cells were depressed with a corresponding rise in the proportion of nul cells. The cumulative results of this and other studies demonstrate that the T-cell arm of immunity is compromised in shigellosis. Indeed the degree of compromise may ultimately be the decisive factor in determining the severity of this disease.
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004405:Dysentery, Bacillary / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012397:Rosette Formation; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D013946:Thymopoietins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013951:Thymus Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D013946:Thymopoietins; D013951:Thymus Hormones