FUNCTIONAL-ACTIVITY OF PERIPHERAL MONONUCLEAR-CELLS IN CYSTIC-FIBROSIS - ANTIBODIES AND PLAQUE-FORMATION

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 50  (1) , 178-182
Abstract
Chronic pulmonary infection constitutes a major complication of cystic fibrosis (CF) in humans. To determine whether a defect of antibody formation is associated with the clinical finding, antibody production on the cellular level was investigated by using a hemolytic plaque forming cell (PFC) assay. The ability of peripheral mononuclear cells (MNC) derived from patients with CF to form PFC upon stimulation by pokeweed mitogen was significantly decreased as compared to healthy control individuals (P < 0.01). Levels of serum Ig of the G, A and M classes and of sheep red blood cell agglutinating antibodies were estimated as well, but no correlation was obtained between these parameters and the number of PFC in patients with CF.