Studies on Human Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes in Vitro

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Abstract
Summary: Circulating human lymphocytes synthesize immunoglobulins in vitro. Immunoglobulin molecules with IgG (γ), IgA (α), IgM (µ), IgD (δ), type K (κ) and type L (λ) polypeptide chain specificity was demonstrated by isotopic labeling with 14C-amino acids and identified by radio-immunoelectrophoresis with class- and type-specific antisera. Cell fractionation studies on glass wool columns revealed that there were two functionally distinct populations of immunoglobulin synthesizing cells in the peripheral blood: 1) non-phagocytic, small lymphocytes, and 2) a phagocytic cell fraction containing granulocytes, monocytes and up to 10% small lymphocytes. Donors displayed marked individuality with regard to the cell concentration necessary for detection of newly synthesized immunoglobulin molecules, the intensity, position, distribution of radiolabel in specific precipitin arcs, and the number of classes and types of molecules synthesized. Circulating lymphocytes taken from the same individual on separate occasions displayed distinctive biosynthetic profiles with regard to the specific classes and types of immunoglobulin molecules synthesized. Time-course biosynthesis studies revealed that cells maintained in tissue culture retain the capacity to synthesize immunoglobulins in vitro and display distinctive biosynthetic patterns after various periods of time in culture medium.

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