title: Immunoglobulin D as a lymphocyte receptor.
abstract: A large proportion of the human peripheral blood lymphocytes of adults and newborns having IgD were found also to have IgM on their membranes and vice versa. A few lymphocytes had one of these classes only. IgD and IgM could be capped independently on the same cell. The possibility that IgD was acquired by a cytophilic process was excluded by the finding that IgD-bearing cells were of one light chain type only, and by the direct demonstration of reappearance of IgD on the lymphocyte membrane during incubation in an IgD-free culture medium. On the basis of these findings, it is proposed that IgD functions as a lymphocyte antigen receptor.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D001665:Binding Sites; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007072:Immunoglobulin D / Q000032:analysis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence
chemical_list: D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D007072:Immunoglobulin D; D007075:Immunoglobulin M