B, T AND NULL LYMPHOCYTES IN NEWBORN INFANTS AND THEIR MOTHERS

Abstract

Estimation of B[bone marrow-derived], T[thymus-derived] and null cells were performed on 29 newborn healthy [human] babies and 16 mothers. The lymphocytes were isolated from peripheral venous blood, which is considered to be more representative of the immune state in the newborn than the cord blood. B lymphocytes were estimated by cytofluorometric measurements, T lymphocytes by the sheep red blood cell rosette technique, (SRBC-R). Combined immunofluorescence and the SRBC-R technique revealed the null cells. In the newborn babies the amounts of B and T cells were diminished. In the mothers the amount of B lymphocytes was low compared with normal adults. The rather high null cell percentage found in the babies might represent immature precursor cells. Mothers seem to be immuno-depressed as reflected in the low amount of B cells.