Delayed in Vitro Immunoglobulin Production by Cord Lymphocytes

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Abstract
Pokeweed mitogen-induced immunoglobulin (Ig) production by [human] cord lymphocytes was studied in vitro by Ig-secreting plaque-forming cell (Ig-PFC) assay. Although adult mononuclear cells generated all of IgM-, IgG- and IgA-PFC, cord mononuclear cells generated only IgM-PFC when cultured for 7 days. The number of cord IgM-PFC was 102 .+-. 26/104 mononuclear cells, being about 1/4 that of adult IgM-PFC. When cultured for 14 days, cord mononuclear cells formed increased numbers of IgM-PFC in contrast to adult cells, and yielded IgG-PFC, indicating delayed Ig production. Cord T [thymus-derived] cells were much less effective at helping adult B [bone marrow-derived] cells to differentiate into Ig-PFC as compared with adult T cells. Substitution of adult T cells for cord T cell markedly improved the response of cord B cells. Ig secretion by cord lymphocytes in response to pokeweed mitogen stimulation was demonstrated. The delayed Ig production by cord lymphocytes is apparently largely due to functional immaturity of the T cells.