Skip to main content
PMC home page
Clinical and Experimental Immunology logoLink to Clinical and Experimental Immunology
. 1977 Dec;30(3):370–378.

Human blood L lymphocytes in patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis and scleroderma: a comparison with T and B cells.

D A Horwitz, K Juul-Nielsen
PMCID: PMC1541144  PMID: 304786

Abstract

Human blood lymphocytes with high affinity Fc receptors for IgG will bind small aggregates of this immunoglobulin at 4 degrees C. These cells have been named L lymphocytes because of membrane-labile IgG determinants. L cells possess a profile of surface markers and functional characteristics which differ from T and B cells. Immunofluorescence methods have been employed to quantify L lymphocytes in subjects with connective tissue diseases and certain infections, and these values have been compared with those for T and B cells. The mean values of L lymphocytes in groups of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis and scleroderma ranged between 14% and 18%; values similar to normals. Groups with acute pneumonia and tuberculosis, however, had significantly increased percentages of L lymphocytes. The absolute number of L cells was decreased in subjects with connective tissue diseases, as was the number of T and B cells. L lymphocytes in those with infections were not significantly decreased. Only L lymphocytes were depleted by immobilized antigen--antibody complexes, another characteristic which distinguishes them from T and B cells.

Full text

PDF
376

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Alexander E., Henkart P. The adherence of human Fc receptor-bearing lymphocytes to antigen-antibody complexes. II. Morphologic alterations induced by the substrate. J Exp Med. 1976 Feb 1;143(2):329–347. doi: 10.1084/jem.143.2.329. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Chess L., Levine H., MacDermott R. P., Schlossman S. F. Immunologic functions of isolated human lymphocyte subpopulations. VI. Further characterization of the surface Ig negative, E rosette negative (null cell) subset. J Immunol. 1975 Dec;115(6):1483–1487. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Dickler H. B., Kunkel H. G. Interaction of aggregated -globulin with B lymphocytes. J Exp Med. 1972 Jul 1;136(1):191–196. doi: 10.1084/jem.136.1.191. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Ehlenberger A. G., McWilliams M., Phillips-Quagliata J. M., Lamm M. E., Nussenzweig V. Immunoglobulin-bearing and complement-receptor lymphocytes constitute the same population in human peripheral blood. J Clin Invest. 1976 Jan;57(1):53–56. doi: 10.1172/JCI108268. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Froland S. S., Natvig J. B., Husby G. Immunological characterization of lymphocytes in synovial fluid from patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Scand J Immunol. 1973;2(1):67–73. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-3083.1973.tb02017.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Froland S. S., Natvig J. B. Identification of three different human lymphocyte populations by surface markers. Transplant Rev. 1973;16:114–162. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-065x.1973.tb00119.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Gergely P., Szegedi G., Fekete B., Szabó G., Petrányi G. Lymphocyte surface immunoglobulins in autoimmune diseases. Lancet. 1973 Mar 3;1(7801):482–483. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(73)91905-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Horwitz D. A., Cousar J. B. A relationship between impaired cellular immunity humoral suppression of lymphocyte function and severity of systemic lupus erythematosus. Am J Med. 1975 Jun;58(6):829–835. doi: 10.1016/0002-9343(75)90639-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Horwitz D. A., Garrett M. A., Craig A. H. Serum effects of mitogenic reactivity in subjects with systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis and scleroderma. Technical considerations and lack of correlation with anti-lymphocyte antibodies. Clin Exp Immunol. 1977 Jan;27(1):100–110. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Horwitz D. A., Garrett M. A. Distinctive functional properties of human blood L lymphocytes: a comparison with T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, and monocytes. J Immunol. 1977 May;118(5):1712–1721. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Horwitz D. A., Lobo P. I. Characterizaiton of two populations of human lymphocytes bearing easily detectable surface immunoglobulin. J Clin Invest. 1975 Dec;56(6):1464–1472. doi: 10.1172/JCI108227. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Keith H. I., Currey H. L. Rosette formation by peripheral blood lymphocytes in rheumatoid arthritis. Ann Rheum Dis. 1973 May;32(3):202–207. doi: 10.1136/ard.32.3.202. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Kurnick J. T., Grey H. M. Relationship between immunoglobulin-bearing lymphocytes and cells reactive with sensitized human erythrocytes. J Immunol. 1975 Jul;115(1):305–307. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Lobo P. I., Horwitz D. A. An appraisal of Fc receptors on human peripheral blood B and L lymphocytes. J Immunol. 1976 Sep;117(3):939–943. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Lobo P. I., Westervelt F. B., Horwitz D. A. Identification of two populations of immunoglobulin-bearing lymphocytes in man. J Immunol. 1975 Jan;114(1 Pt 1):116–119. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Lohrmann H. P., Novikovs L., Graw R. G., Jr Stimulatory capacity of human T and B lymphocytes in the mixed leukocyte culture. Nature. 1974 Jul 12;250(462):144–146. doi: 10.1038/250144a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Mellbye O. J., Messner R. P., DeBord J. R., Williams R. C., Jr Immunoglobulin and receptors for C3 on lymphocytes from patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 1972 Jul-Aug;15(4):371–380. doi: 10.1002/art.1780150408. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Messner R. P., Lindström F. D., Williams R. C., Jr Peripheral blood lymphocyte cell surface markers during the course of systemic lupus erythematosus. J Clin Invest. 1973 Dec;52(12):3046–3056. doi: 10.1172/JCI107503. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Moretta L., Ferrarini M., Mingari M. C., Moretta A., Webb S. R. Subpopulations of human T cells identified by receptors for immunoglobulins and mitogen responsiveness. J Immunol. 1976 Dec;117(6):2171–2174. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Niklasson P. M., Williams R. C., Jr Studies of peripheral blood T-and B-lymphocytes in acute infections. Infect Immun. 1974 Jan;9(1):1–7. doi: 10.1128/iai.9.1.1-7.1974. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Papamichail M., Brown J. C., Holborow E. J. Immunoglobulins on the surface of human lymphocytes. Lancet. 1971 Oct 16;2(7729):850–852. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(71)90224-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. ROPES M. W., BENNETT G. A., COBB S., JACOX R., JESSAR R. A. 1958 Revision of diagnostic criteria for rheumatoid arthritis. Bull Rheum Dis. 1958 Dec;9(4):175–176. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Ryan J. L., Henkart P. A. Fc receptor-mediated inhibition of murine B-lymphocyte activation. J Exp Med. 1976 Sep 1;144(3):768–775. doi: 10.1084/jem.144.3.768. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Saal J. G., Rieber E. P., Hadam M., Riethmuller G. Lymphocytes with T-cell markers cooperate with IgG antibodies in the lysis of human tumour cells. Nature. 1977 Jan 13;265(5590):158–160. doi: 10.1038/265158a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Samarut C., Brochier J., Revillard J. P. Distribution of cells binding erythrocyte-antibody (EA) complexes in human lymphoid populations. Scand J Immunol. 1976;5(3):221–231. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-3083.1976.tb00273.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Scheinberg M. A., Cathcart E. S. B cell and T cell lymphopenia in systemic lupus erythematosus. Cell Immunol. 1974 May;12(2):309–314. doi: 10.1016/0008-8749(74)90083-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Sheldon P. J., Papamichail M., Holborow E. J. Studies on synovial fluid lymphocytes in rheumatoid arthritis. Ann Rheum Dis. 1974 Nov;33(6):509–514. doi: 10.1136/ard.33.6.509. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Utsinger P. D. Relationship of lymphocytotoxic antibodies to lymphopenia and parameters of disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus. J Rheumatol. 1976 Jun;3(2):175–185. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Warner N. L. Membrane immunoglobulins and antigen receptors on B and T lymphocytes. Adv Immunol. 1974;19(0):67–216. doi: 10.1016/s0065-2776(08)60252-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Weiner M. S., Bianco C., Nussenzweig V. Enhanced binding of neuraminidase-treated sheep erythrocytes to human T lymphocytes. Blood. 1973 Dec;42(6):939–946. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. West W. H., Sienknecht C. W., Townes A. S., Herberman R. B. Performance of a rosette assay between lymphocytes and sheep erythrocytes at elevated temperatures to study patients with cancer and other diseases. Clin Immunol Immunopathol. 1976 Jan;5(1):60–66. doi: 10.1016/0090-1229(76)90149-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Williams R. C., Jr, DeBoard J. R., Mellbye O. J., Messner R. P., Lindström F. D. Studies of T- and B-lymphocytes in patients with connective tissue diseases. J Clin Invest. 1973 Feb;52(2):283–295. doi: 10.1172/JCI107184. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Winchester R. J., Fu S. M., Hoffman T., Kunkel H. G. IgG on lymphocyte surfaces; technical problems and the significance of a third cell population. J Immunol. 1975 Apr;114(4):1210–1212. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. Winchester R. J., Winfield J. B., Siegal F., Wernet P., Bentwich Z., Kunkel H. G. Analyses of lymphocytes from patients with rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. Occurrence of interfering cold-reactive antilymphocyte antibodies. J Clin Invest. 1974 Nov;54(5):1082–1092. doi: 10.1172/JCI107852. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. Winfield J. B., Winchester R. J., Wernet P., Fu S. M., Kunkel H. G. Nature of cold-reactive antibodies to lymphocyte surface determinants in systemic lupus erythematosus. Arthritis Rheum. 1975 Jan-Feb;18(1):1–8. doi: 10.1002/art.1780180101. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  36. Yy D. T., Clements P. J., Peter J. B., Levy J., Paulus H. E., Barnett E. V. Lymphocyte characteristics in rheumatic patients and the effect of azathioprine therapy. Arthritis Rheum. 1974 Jan-Feb;17(1):37–45. doi: 10.1002/art.1780170107. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Clinical and Experimental Immunology are provided here courtesy of British Society for Immunology

RESOURCES