Sex-associated relationships between cell counts and lymphoproliferative responses in healthy young adults

Correlation analyzes of lymphoproliferative responses, total T (E-rosettes) cell levels and autologous rosette-forming cell (A-RFC) levels of healthy human volunteers revealed previously unsuspected sex-associated differences. A negative association existed between response to Con A and E-rosette levels in men, and between PHA lymphoproliferation and E-rosette counts in women, whereas mitogen-induced responses and A-FRC levels varied independently in either sex. Total T cell and A-RFC counts correlated only in man.