Immunologic heterogeneity of the lymphocyte surface in various diseases.

Employing the surface immunofluorescence technique and rosette test, surface receptors of lymphocytes from 83 healthy subjects (57 adult donors and 2l infants), 3 mature fetuses, and 110 patients, including 23 infants with acute repiratory infections, 22 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), 20 patients with viral hepatitis (VH), 22 patients with chronic brucellosis, and 1 patient with ataxia-telangiectasia lacking serum IgA were studied. Surface immunoglobulins complement-receptor lymphocyte (B lymphocytes), rosette formation with uncoated sheep erythrocytes (T lymphocytes), and receptor for Fc IgG, characteristic mainly of B lymphocytes, were determined. Percentages of B lymphocytes in peripheral blood of adults (21%) and infants (about 24%), T lymphocytes in adults (about 70%) and infants (about 52%) were determined. On the surface of lymphocytes from adults, IgM predominated, followed by IgG, and IgA was least frequent. In acute upper respiratory tract infections in infants percentages of B lymphocytes in peripheral blood were markedly increased. Glucocorticoids used in treatment exerted a distinctly suppressive effect on these cells. In multiple sclerosis the number of cells with receptors for complement and density of receptors for Fc IgG on the surface of lymphocytes were decreased. In acute viral hepatitis, no significant changes in the contents of B and T lymphocytes in peripheral blood were noted. In chronic brucellosis, the numbers of T lymphocytes were decreased, and atypical mononuclear cells with partial lack of receptors typical of B lymphocytes were observed. The findings indicate that in diseases based on bacterial or viral infections and in multiple sclerosis, B and T lymphocytes play an essential role, which is reflected by the percentages of B and T lymphocytes in peripheral blood.