An improved micro-method for enumeration of human B-cell rosettes with mouse red blood cells

A micro-method for enumerating B-lymphocytes in human peripheral blood is described, using formation of rosettes with mouse red blood cells as a B-cell marker. The optimal conditions for the enumeration of mouse red cell rosette forming cells have been defined. By this method, it was possible to utilize less than 1ml of peripheral blood (venous or capillary) for simultaneous enumeration of both T-cell and B-cell rosettes. Our study of human lymphoid cell lines, thymic cells, lymphocytes from agammaglobulinemia, and severe combined immunodeficiency has provided additional evidence that lymphocyte rosetting with mouse red blood cells represent B-lymphocytes.