G. Petrányi

T and B lymphocytes in pregnancy

SummaryThe proportion of human peripheral B- and T-lymphocytes of pregnant women was studied by immunofluorescence and rosette tests. No significant difference between pregnant women and controls was found in the absolute number of circulating T-cells. A slight increase in the absolute number of B-cells was observed in pregnancy. The percentage of total RFC was the same in pregnant women and in controls whereas the percentage of stable RFC and PHA induced RFC decreased in pregnancy. The conclusion of the results was drawn that the depression of maternal immunity may depend on other factors than the decreased proliferation of T-cells.ZusammenfassungMit der Immunfluoreszenz und dem Rosetten Test wurden die Anteile der menschlichen B- und T-Lymphocyten des Blutes in der Schwangerschaft untersucht. Kein Unterschied wurde zwischen Graviden und Kontrollen in der absoluten Zahl der T-Lymphocyten gefunden. Der Prozentsatz der totalen rosettenbildenden Zellen ist bei Schwangeren und Kontrollen ähnlich. Die absolute Zahl der B-Lymphocyten ist vergrößert und die stabile und PHA-induzierte Rosettenbildung in der Schwangerschaft vermindert. Daraus wird der Schluß gezogen, daß die Ursache der cellulären Immunsuppression in der Schwangerschaft nicht eine verminderte Proliferation der T-Lymphocyten ist.

Myasthenia gravis: ALG Treatment of Seriously Ill Patients

The authors review the theoretical basis of human antilymphocyte globulin (ALG) and human antihymocyte globulin (ATG) treatment in myasthenia gravis. Ten selected seriously ill myasthenic patients were treated with ALG and/or ATG. Three of the patients improved significantly and a further four moderately, whereas the condition of three patients did not change. ALG therapy is effective in the suppression of cellular immune mechanism, therefore it can be assumed that it exerts its effect in myasthenia gravis by inhibiting thymus hormone stimulation.

Effect of phytohaemagglutinin and concanavalin a on human rosette-forming cells

Nachweis, dass Phytohaemagglutinin und Concanavalin A die spontane Rosettenbildung der menschlichen Lymphozyten anregt. Die Stimulation der Rosettenbildung und Lymphoblast-Transformation ergibt parallele Ergebnisse.