[Properties of human lymphocytes binding to mouse red blood cells]

Certain properties of the bond between lymphocytes and mouse red blood cells were studied. The turnover of the receptor on the lymphocytes of twelve healthy subjects was evaluated. After two hours of incubation in a medium devoid of additives the receptor is released and its resynthesis is completed in twenty-four hours. In experiments employing proteolytic enzymes inhibition of rosette formation is observed, whereas neuraminidase, under the same experimental conditions, significantly increases the number of rosette forming cells. The percentage of mouse rosette forming cells in nineteen patients affected with chronic lymphatic leukaemia was then evaluated (17 with type B and 2 with type T). On the basis of these cases and other recently published data, an ontogenetic explanation for the appearance of this receptor is proposed.