title: Studies of T- and B-lymphocytes in patients with connective tissue diseases.
abstract: Peripheral blood lymphocytes from normal subjects as well as patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and active tuberculosis were studied for the relative distribution of bone marrow-derived lymphocytes (B-cells) and thymic-derived T-cells. B-cells were identified by direct immunofluorescence of surface Ig markers; T-cells were studied using rabbit antisera to pooled human fetal thymocytes absorbed with chronic lymphatic leukemia lymphocytes as a source of B-cells. In normal subjects, the sum of percentages of peripheral blood lymphocytes staining for surface Ig (B-cells) plus the percentage of cells staining with the absorbed antithymocyte antiserum closely approximated 100%. The mean value for percent B-cells among 51 normals tested was 22.9%+/-7.1; mean T-cells value was 75.3+/-13.95%. T-cell-specific antiserum stained 18% of normal human bone marrow lymphocytes, 42.5% of lymphocytes from normal spleens, and 98% of cells obtained from thoracic duct drainage of patients with RA. Specificity of antihuman thymocyte antiserum appeared to depend on the use of living cells. When patients with RA were examined, a wide range (14-98%) of peripheral blood T-cell values was found. Values for low percentages of peripheral blood T-cells appeared to correlate to some extent with severe clinical disease. In 11 of 36 RA patients, the sum of identifiable B- plus T-cells accounted for only 34-55% of peripheral blood lymphocytes. The identity of the remaining "null" cells could not be identified.3 of 24 SLE patients studied showed low percentages of peripheral blood T-cells, but no correlation could be drawn between T- to B-cell ratios and clinical disease activity. Among 21 patients with active tuberculosis, one had a low value for identifiable T-cells. No significant differences from normals in range or proportion of B-cells was identified in patients with active tuberculous infection.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000473:pathology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes; D001853:Bone Marrow; D002452:Cell Count; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007106:Immune Sera; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011817:Rabbits / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes; D013950:Thymus Gland; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D007106:Immune Sera