Functions of T cells and B cells of a (hypo)-gammaglobulinemia patients in pokeweed mitogen induced immunoglobulin production system

Abstract

Functions of T cells and B cells of a (hypo)-gammaglobulinemia patients were investigated, using pokeweed mitogen (PWM) induced immunoglobulin production system. As the B cell competence is required for T cell help among allogeneic individuals, T cells or B cells were tested in co-cultures not only with B cells or T cells of the third party individuals but also with B cells or T cells of patient family members. Detections of immunoglobulin secreting cells were performed by plaque assay using protein A coated sheep red blood cells. In three of four cases with common variable immunodeficiencies, B cell functions were disturbed, in another case T cell helper or suppressor function was disturbed and B cell function was slightly disturbed. In two cases with Bloom's syndrome and one case with 18 ring chromosome, B cell functions were disturbed.