UNUSUAL PHENOTYPE AND FUNCTION OF AN EXPANDED SUB-POPULATION OF T-CELLS IN PATIENTS WITH HEMATOPOIETIC DISORDERS

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 43  (3) , 497-505
Abstract
Patients, 1 with red cell aplasia and the other with neutropenia. Both showed lymphocytosis. In both cases, 90-100% of erythrocyte rosetting cells were T cells as defined by the monoclonal antibodies UCHT1 and OKT3. The majority of these cells also carried the OKT8 suppressor/cytotoxic marker and were HLA-DR- and IgG Fc receptor-positive. In spite of the similarity of this phenotype to that reported for suppressor cells, these cells failed to suppress pokeweed mitogen-induced polyclonal Ig synthesis. Cells from both patients also failed to respond significantly to Con A [concanavalin A] and PHA [phytohemagglutinin]. They were unable to suppress the Con A responses of normal donors although cells from 1 patient were able to suppress completely a normal PHA response. The existence of a genuine T cell subset with Fc.gamma. receptors is demonstrated but apparently not all such cells have typical suppressor function.