[Treatment with immunocompetent cells and cellextracts (author's transl)]

The therapy of inborn or acquired defects of the cellular immune function is still in an experimental stage. Basicly, it is possible to replace the non-functioning T-cells by immunocompetent lymphocytes. Bone marrow, fetal liver and/or thymus, or cultivated thymus can serve as the source of such cells. Under certain conditions humoral factors derived from immunocompetent lymphocytes can induce a lacking immune response. Possibilities as well as limitations of these two therapeutic concepts are discussed.