B lymphocyte changes in homosexual men with generalized lymphadenopathy.
Studies of B and T lymphocytes were done on homosexual men with generalized lymphadenopathy, homosexuals without any clinical symptoms, and on normal heterosexual controls. In vitro proliferative responses induced by pokeweed mitogen (PWM) and phytohemagglutinin (PHA) were determined, as was the polyclonal plaque-forming cell (PFC) response to PWM. A decreased proliferative response to PWM and PHA was observed in mononuclear cells from patients with generalized lymphadenopathy and in some of the asymptomatic individuals. In addition, the mononuclear cells of these groups showed a reduced PFC response to PWM, which was not due to a kinetic difference. Serum immunoglobulins, particularly IgG, were elevated in most of the patients with generalized lymphadenopathy. T cell changes including reduced T helper/suppressor ratios were observed in most of the symptomatic and in some of the asymptomatic homosexuals. The reduced proliferative and differentiative responses of mononuclear cells to PWM may be compatible with a B cell abnormality, in addition to a previously described T cell dysfunction.
D000328:Adult; D000921:Antibody-Producing Cells / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000276:immunology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000276:immunology; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology
D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens