BIOLOGICAL RHYTHM OF CELL-MEDIATED-IMMUNITY IN MAN

  • 1 January 1976
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 26  (2) , 253-257
Abstract
The biological rhythm of the spontaneous lymphocyte transformation and the lymphocyte response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA), concanavalin A (Con A) and purified protein derivative of tuberculin (PPD) was studied in 6 healthy male volunteers. The count of peripheral blood lymphocytes was increasing from 08:00 until 02:00 h. The level of plasma cortisol was highest at 08:00 h and lowest at 20:00 h. Spontaneous lymphocyte transformation showed a biphasic cycle during the day; the peak values were observed at 08:00 and 20:00 h, and a significant depression was found at 14:00 h. The response of peripheral blood lymphocytes to PHA and Con A varied inversely with the level of plasma cortisol. The PPD response was lowest at 08:00 h, but the highest value was observed at 0.2:00 h. No significant day to day variation was found in any of the parameters studied.