Cell cycle distribution defect in PHA-stimulated T lymphocytes of sickle cell disease patients

T lymphocytes from normal human controls and sickle cell disease (SCD) patients were isolated from peripheral blood and cultured for 72 hours following addition of phytohemagglutinin. The ratio for the fraction of cells in DNA synthesis (S phase) over the fraction in G2 phase (S/G2) was significantly higher in SCD patients in comparison to the controls (mean +/- SD) (4.01 +/- 0.78 vs. 2.78 +/- 0.76, P less than 0.02). Following in vivo zinc supplementation to two subjects, the S/G2 ratio was normalized. We conclude that the distribution of T lymphocytes in cell cycle is altered in SCD patients and that this effect may be zinc-dependent.