[T and B lymphocytes in peripheral blood of splenectomized subjects]

The report is a part of more extensive studies on the role of the spleen in immune processes. Assessing the ability of lymphocytes T to non-immunological binding of sheep erythrocytes and the ability of B cells to bind immunological complexes through the receptor for C3 component of complement, and the presence of immunoglobulins on the surface of lymphocytes B the number of these cells in peripheral blood was determined in 14 healthy individuals who had been splenectomized. In all these subjects the degree of blastic transformation of lymphocytes in PHA-stimulated 3 day-old white blood cell cultures was determined. It was found that the number of T and B lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of splenectomized and non-splenectomized patients was similiar. Lymphocytes obtained from splenectomized patients had however, an impairment of transformation ability after PHA stimulation. It is suggested that, apart from determination of T and B cell pool in the peripheral blood, an evaluation of their transformation ability after PHA stimulation is necessary for assessment of the immunological state in vitro investigations.