Physiological variation of blood lymphocyte reactivity: T-cell subsets, immunoglobulin production, and mixed-lymphocyte reactivity.
Highly purified blood lymphocytes from healthy individuals were obtained from samples collected before and after a standardized bicycle ergometer test. In accordance with previous findings physical work resulted in a marked increase of circulating lymphocytes, with a proportionate decrease of T lymphocytes and increase of non-T lymphocytes including B cells. The decrease of T lymphocytes was accounted for by a reduction of cells reactive with the monoclonal OKT4 serum (helper/inducer), whereas the proportion of OKT8-positive cells (suppressor/cytotoxic) remained unchanged. The lymphocyte production of IgG, IgM, and IgA after 7 days culture with pokeweed mitogen and the lymphocyte DNA synthesis after activation by allogeneic cells was reduced during work. It is concluded that nonspecific stress changes the composition of T-lymphocyte subsets with depression of T-cell stimulation and T-cell-dependent immunoglobulin production.
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D000921:Antibody-Producing Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000502:physiology; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D008297:Male; D010641:Phenotype; D012397:Rosette Formation; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007136:Immunoglobulins