B and T Lymphocyte Subpopulations in Peripheral Blood and Bone Marrow Blood from Aplastic Anemia in Childhood

Abstract

Peripheral blood lymphocytes from 14 healthy children and from 28 patients with primary aplastic anemia were examined for the presence of surface markers (E rosettes, EAC rosettes and Sm-Ig), and for the in vitro response to mitogens (Phytohemagglutinin: PHA and Lipopolysaccharide: LPS).
Absolute number of rosette forming cells (RFC) was increased in 50% of nontreated patients group, but decreased in the patients treated with adrenocortical steroids (ACS). Absolute number of complement receptor lymphocytes (CRL) was almost normal in non-treated patients group, but decrease was observed in 50% of the cases treated with ACS. Surface immunoglobulin bearing lymphocyte frequency was decreased remarkably in both non-, and ACS-treated group.
PHA responsiveness of the peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients was within normal range, while response to LPS was slightly or moderately decreased.
Frequency of CRL in bone marrow blood lymphocytes from 10 cases of aplastic anemia did not differ from control subjects. While, percentage of RFC was very much increased (mean 34.2%).
The observation that some defects of B cell differentiation and high frequency of RFC in bone marrow blood may be pathognomonic should be further elaborated.