Inhibition or stimulation of immediate, spontaneous rosette formation at various SRBC:lymphocyte ratios

The active rosette-forming cell (ARFC) percentage was investigated in a group of 100 persons, consisting of 50 healthy blood donors, 30 cancer patients (CA), and 20 patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The test was repeatedly performed using five SRBC:lymphocyte ratios: 10:1, 20:1, 5-:1, 100:1, and 200:1. In 18% of healthy donors and 30-40% of cancer patients, contrary to the remaining persons no relation between ARFC percentage and the SRBC:lymphocyte ratio was found. The "optimal" SRBC:lymphocyte ratio, varied from group to group and was 20:1 for most of RA patients, 50:1 for most of CA patients and 100:1 for most of healthy people. Sometimes, at higher SRBC:lymphocyte ratios a significant lowering of the ARFC percentage was found in relation to the optimal proportion for a given person, and this was observed for 200:1 ratio in 68% of healthy people, 54% of cancer patients and 90% of patients with RA. It is suggested, that ARFC test should be always performed at least in these three SRBC:lymphocyte ratios. Inhibition or stimulation of rosette formation by supernatant fluids of lymphocytes and SRBC suggest that SRBC release substances, which can directly or indirectly inhibit or stimulate rosette formation.