title: In vitro secretion of immunoglobulin in early syphilis evaluated with the plaque forming cell assay.
abstract: We have studied the secretion of immunoglobulin in vitro from blood lymphocytes in twenty-one patients with primary or secondary syphilis before and after treatment of their disease. Polyclonal activation of B lymphocytes with pokeweed mitogen is dependent upon T lymphocytes. Using the inversed haemolytic plaque cell assay we found a normal secretion in vitro of immunoglobulin in both primary and secondary syphilis. Our results indicate that patients with syphilis retain a normal immune regulation of B lymphocyte immunoglobulin secretion in vitro.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D006462:Hemolytic Plaque Technique; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D013587:Syphilis / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D007136:Immunoglobulins; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens