Identification of cells with monocyte markers in panhypogammaglobulinaemia

Nonphagocytic cells bearing receptors for complement and IgGFc in blood samples from four boys with panhypogammaglobulinaemia who lacked B lymphocytes were positively stained for human macrophage antigen (HuMA) and intracellular peroxidase. Similar non-T, non-B cells were found in adult blood preparations but in lower numbers than in the four boys above and in two of three other boys with various immunodeficiencies. Because of their monocyte characteristics, it is improbable that these cells are B-lymphocyte precursors; this is consistent with our view that there is a central failure of B-cell induction in boys with panhypogammaglobulinaemia who lack lymphocytes with surface immunoglobulin.