[Antilymphocytic antibodies in human diseases as a factor decreasing the functional activity of T-suppressors]

157 sera from adults and children with rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatic fever, myocarditis, neurodermatitis, bronchial asthma, wound infections, second degree obesity without symptoms of diabetes were examined. 60% of sera contained high concentrations of antibodies possessing cytotoxicity against thymus cells, but not against bone marrow cells. Sera of healthy children and adults contained no cytotoxic antibodies. Sera cytotoxic against mouse thymus cells inhibited the suppressing activity of mouse splenocytes in experiments on syngeneic transfer, reducing the ability of human lymphocytes to form T-RFC. The latter phenomenon is associated with the decline in the number of T-theophylline-sensitive lymphocytes, known as T-suppressors.