[Behavior of rosette-forming human lymphocytes in allogeneic cell mixtures]

Rosetting lymphocytes have been evaluated in allogeneic mixtures of human peripheral lymphoid cells. In these mixtures E-rosettes were inhibited as compared with that of individuals cells not sharing HLA antigens in common. Mixtures of lymphoid cells sharing HLA antigens in common (familiar combinations) were less or not inhibited. The inhibiting effect has been ascribed to shedding of HLA antigens in the allogeneic mixtures, interfering with the binding of sheep erythrocytes to lymphoid cells. These results confirm the existence of a very closely association between antigen receptor and HLA products on the cell surface of T-lymphocytes.