CHARACTERIZATION OF IMMUNOREGULATORY LYMPHOCYTES-T IN INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETIC CHILDREN BY MEANS OF MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODIES

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  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 47  (2) , 296-300
Abstract
Monoclonal antibodies of the OKT series were used to identify total T lymphocytes (OKT3+) and their helper (OKT4+) and suppressor-cytotoxic (OKT8+) subsets in 34 insulin-dependent diabetic children and in 39 young healthy controls. The diabetics have a moderate but significant reduction of the proportions of total T lymphocytes at the expense of the T helper subset; the proportions of suppressor-cytotoxic cells are normal. These abnormalities of the lymphocyte subpopulations are not related to the duration of diabetes, the control of the disease or to the presence of autoimmune phenomena. The latter were found in 51.4% of the patients.