T-LYMPHOCYTES AND B-LYMPHOCYTES IN SOUTH-AMERICAN PEMPHIGUS FOLIACEUS

  • 1 January 1976
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 23  (3) , 477-480
Abstract
T [thymus-derived] and B [bone marrow-derived] lymphocytes were quantified in peripheral blood of 30 patients with S American pemphigus foliaceus according to their ability to form rosettes with sheep erythrocytes (E) or sheep erythrocytes sensitized with [rabbit] antibody and [human] complement (EAC). When compared with the counts obtained from 30 normal subjects, a decrease was found in the total T-lymphocyte count (32.33 .+-. 7.7 vs. 46.7 .+-. 8.7) and in the T functional lymphocyte count as detected by the active rosette test. The mean percentage of B lymphocytes within the total number of lymphocytes was not significantly different from that of normal subjects (24.0 .+-. 8.2 vs. 25.3 .+-. 8.0). Lymph node sections from 3 pemphigus patients examined for E or EAC adherence showed depletion of T cells in the paracortical areas. The low percentage of E cells in the peripheral blood and the depletion of E cells in paracortical areas of lymph nodes from patients with S American pemphigus foliaceus may reflect impaired cellular immunity.