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Cell replication in an immunologically(?) Stimulated cell population in human bone marrow.
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
|January 1, 1985
Summary
In acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), B cells increase and produce immunoglobulin despite a lack of immune response. Marrow B cells replicate and turn over, with larger cells and specific transitional forms showing higher DNA synthesis.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Hematology
Background:
- Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is characterized by impaired humoral immunity.
- Despite immune dysfunction, AIDS patients often exhibit increased B cell numbers and immunoglobulin production.
- A standardized classification of B cell morphology is crucial for comparative studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish a reproducible morphologic classification for B cells.
- To investigate the cell kinetics and proliferation of B cells in AIDS patients.
- To compare B cell proliferation in AIDS with other disease states.
Main Methods:
- Development of an objective, reproducible morphologic classification scheme for B cells.
- Analysis of B cell morphology and cell kinetic parameters in bone marrow samples from AIDS patients.
- Assessment of DNA synthesis fractions within different B cell morphologic categories.
Main Results:
- Bone marrow B cells in AIDS patients demonstrate replication and turnover, despite unresponsiveness to new stimuli.
- Plasmacytic lymphocytes and lymphocytic plasma cells exhibit the highest fractions of DNA synthesis.
- Larger cells within a morphologic category are more likely to be in DNA synthesis compared to smaller cells.
Conclusions:
- The study provides a classification system for B cell morphology essential for comparative analyses.
- B cell proliferation occurs in the bone marrow of AIDS patients, indicating ongoing cellular activity.
- Specific B cell transitional forms are actively synthesizing DNA, contributing to the increased B cell pool.