T Cells in immunodeficiencies as evaluated by an antihuman T-cell serum

An antihuman T-cell has been prepared in rabbits by infecting lymphocytes from a patient with Bruton-type agammaglobulinemia and absorption with cultured B-lymphoblast cells. Cytotoxicity of the antiserum was assayed with peripheral blood lymphocytes in the presence of rabbit complement and its specificity for T vs B cells was verified. This anti-T-cell serum killed 66% (range 49-78) of normal blood lymphocytes. In patients with Bruton-type agammaglobulinemia the percentage of cells sensitive to the antiserum was above normal (77-89%), whereas it was decreased in some patients with lepromatous leprosy or under antilymphocyte globulin therapy.