Lymphocyte subpopulations in patients with various immunodeficiencies.
We have studied patients with various immunodeficiencies for the occurrence of blood lymphocytes bearing six different surface markers: the affinity to sheep erythrocytes (Es) to identify T cells, the presence of surface-bound immunoglobulins (sIg) to distinguish B cells, the affinity to mouse erythrocytes (Em) as a second B cell marker, and the receptors for the Fc part of IgM (IgM-FcR), the Fc part of IgG (IgG-FcR) and for complement (CR). IgG-FcR bearing lymphocytes were present in normal proportions and the same was found for CR-positive lymphocytes. None of the patients with congenital agammaglobulinaemia had sIg-bearing or Em-binding B lymphocytes. Four patients with ataxia teleangiectasia had low B cells and 3 out of 4 also had low proportions of IgM-FcR-bearing (T) cells. A child with partial DiGeorge syndrome did not have a grossly abnormal marker pattern although there appeared to be a shift in the T/B cell ratio in favour of the B cells. In a patient with selective cellular immunodeficiency associated with a purine nucleoside phosphorylase deficiency, who was followed during reconstitution therapy with plasma and red cells, a positive change in the marker pattern was seen. Similar observations were made in a child with combined immunodeficiency during treatment. The findings are being discussed in the light of the current knowledge of the functions and ontogeny of lymphocyte subsets.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000915:Antibody Affinity; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D001666:Binding Sites, Antibody; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007153:Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / Q000276:immunology*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / Q000032:analysis*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell