LYMPHOCYTE SUBPOPULATIONS IN PATIENTS WITH VARIOUS IMMUNODEFICIENCIES

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Abstract
Patients with various immunodeficiencies were studied for the occurrence of blood lymphocytes bearing 6 different surface markers: the affinity to sheep erythrocytes (Es) to identify T [thymus-derived] cells, the presence of surface-bound immunoglobulins (sIg) to distinguish B [bone marrow-derived] cells, the affinity to mouse erythrocytes (Em) as a 2nd 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 agammaglobulinemia had sIg-bearing or Em-binding B lymphocytes. Four patients with ataxia teleangiectasia had low B cells and 3 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 favor 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 discussed in light of the current knowledge of the functions and ontogeny of lymphocyte subsets.