[Staged analysis of the lowered proliferative response of human lymphocytes to mitogens]

The current concepts of the mechanisms of initiation and regulation of the proliferative response of lymphoid cells underlie a series of research performed by the authors. Using the modern methods an attempt was made to analyze comprehensively the causes of its lowering in patients with congenital immune deficiency (ataxia-telangiectasia, the Louis-Bar syndrome). It was established that irresponsiveness of the patients' cells to mitogens is not associated with the inability of these cells to interact with mitogen, to produce the growth factor of T cells or adsorb it on their membrane. It is suggested that the derangement is likely to be connected with the blockade of the postmembrane component of the proliferation trigger. It is also assumed that the analysis of the low proliferative response employed by the authors can be successfully used for other pathologies.