[Analysis of subpopulations of peripheral blood T-lymphocytes of schizophrenic patients]

The reaction of lymphocytes to Con A and PHA and combined action of these 2 T-mitogens in the peripheral blood was studied in schizophrenic patients (25 cases) and normal donors (21 cases). It was demonstrated that study of lymphocyte function in the peripheral blood with the aid of the 2 mitogens makes it possible to differentiate more distinctly the lymphocytes of schizophrenic patients and normals. It was established that the lymphocyte subpopulation capable of responding to both mitogens used is 4 times less in schizophrenics than in normal donors. The proportion of cells reacting only to one of these mitogens is significantly higher than in normals. The total content of mitogen-sensitive T-lymphocytes in schizophrenic patients and normal donors is approximately the same and equals about 40% of the whole lymphocyte population in the peripheral blood.