Autoimmune hemolytic anemia as a manifestation of T-suppressor-cell deficiency.
This report describes two children in whom autoimmune hemolytic anemia was the initial clinical manifestation of an underlying T-cell deficiency. Further investigation revealed a profound deficiency of T suppressor cells in both children as detected by monoclonal T-cell antibody (OKT8) and/or functional assays. In vitro incubation of their lymphocytes with cultured thymus epithelium or thymic factors induced T suppressor cells. In vivo treatment with cultured thymus epithelium or calf thymosin fraction 5 resulted in increased T-suppressor-cell numbers and/or function in both and possibly decreased hemolytic activity in one. These results suggest that the autoimmune process in some patients with autoimmune hemolytic anemia is associated with T-suppressor-cell deficiency and that in vivo therapy with agents that modulate T-cell function may be of therapeutic value.
D000243:Adenosine Deaminase / Q000097:blood; D000744:Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D002417:Cattle; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000201:enzymology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D011683:Purine-Nucleoside Phosphorylase / Q000097:blood; D012397:Rosette Formation; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*; D013947:Thymosin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000276:immunology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000637:transplantation
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; C033782:thymosin fraction 5; D013947:Thymosin; D011683:Purine-Nucleoside Phosphorylase; D000243:Adenosine Deaminase