Luise Komlos

Common HLA antigens in couples with repeated abortions.

Abstract Seventy-nine couples, including cases of single and repeated abortions, hydatidiform moles, and a control group of fertile couples with no history of abortions, were tested for HLA antigens, locus A and B. A significantly higher frequency of common HLA antigens was shared by both members of the couples with repeated abortions as compared to controls. The possibility of a higher incidence of homozygotic fetuses for certain HLA antigens which may lead to abortions is discussed.

Isochromosome Y [46, X, i(Yq)] and female phenotype

A 26‐year‐old patient with female phenotype and the karyotype 46, x, i (Yq) is described. She had no breast, and a rudimentary uterus and streak gonads were present. Apart from a rather deep voice, no signs of masculinization were observed, nor did she display any of the stigmata usually associated with Turners syndrome. The Yq chromosome was identified conclusively by the Giemsa C‐banding technique. The function of the Y chromosome is discussed briefly, and it is concluded that the factors determining or regulating somatic male differentiation must be located in the short arm of the Y chromosome.

Triploidy 69, XXX in a stillborn girl

Complete triploidy was found in lymphocyte cultures From a stillborn full‐term female infant with a birthweight of 1,000 g. The child had B ventricular septal detect of the heart hut no other macroscopic internal or external malformations. The mother, who had a history of prolonged anti‐asthmatic medication, displayed a high incidence of satellite associations and chromatid breakages in her cultured lymphocytes. The possibility that such changes are instrumental in the formation of triploid zygotes is discussed.

In vitro selective effect of melphalan on human T-cell populations.

SummaryIn vitro treatment with 2 μg/2×106 cells melphalan (l-PAM: l-phenylalanine mustard) significantly decreased the total number of T lymphocytes from peripheral blood (PBL) of healthy human donors and of the OKT4 population (precursor suppressor/helper/inducer) T cells as defined by monoclonal antibodies OKT3 and OKT4, respectively. No changes in the OKT8+lymphocyte population (cytotoxic/mature suppressor cells) were observed following the same treatment. Preincubation of PBL with l-PAM at concentrations that do not affect the rate of DNA synthesis in PHA-stimulated lymphocytes inhibited the generation of T suppressor lymphocytes by ConA, as shown by their effect on PHA stimulation. Treatment of allogeneic PBL with l-PAM had no effect on mature suppressor T cells already induced by Con A, as shown by incubation of PBL with l-PAM after incubation with ConA.

Synergistic effect of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (NAG) on mitogenic, antigenic and allogeneic stimulation of normal human lymphocytes

The effect of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (NAG) on in vitro stimulated human peripheral blood lymphocytes was investigated. NAG was added to lymphocyte cultures stimulated by the mitogen PHA, the antigen PPD or to one-way-stimulated mixed lymphocyte cultures from unrelated donors. The results indicate that NAG (1-2 micrograms/ml) in appropriate experimental conditions has an enhancing effect on DNA and protein synthesis induced by PHA, PPD and allogeneic cells. Addition of NAG (1-2 micrograms/ml) to unstimulated lymphocyte cultures had no effect on DNA or protein synthesis.

Mixed Maternal-Paternal Lymphocyte Cultures Before and After Immunotherapy for Recurrent Spontaneous Abortions

PROBLEM: The increased reactivity of maternal lymphocytes in reciprocal mixed‐maternal‐paternal lymphocyte cultures (MMPLC), observed in the presence of control serum after immunotherapy, suggests that immunization with paternal lymphocytes may induce a highly significant cell mediated immune response in specifically alloactivated maternal lymphocytes.

Mode of inheritance of HLA haplotypes locus A,B in siblings of different sexes

METHOD: Forty‐eight parents and 172 children were typed for class I HLA antigens, locus A,B.

Changes in Maternal and Newborn Lymphocyte Reactivity in Reciprocal Mixed Lymphocyte Cultures During the Postpartum Period

ABSTRACT: Reciprocal one‐way mixed mother‐newborn lymphocyte cultures (MMNLC) containing alternatively maternal or newborn responding (R) or stimulating (S) cells were investigated in both directions in primiparae at three different times: a few hours after delivery, and at 4 and at 16 weeks. Cultures were grown in the presence of maternal and pooled control serum prepared from the blood of five to eight unrelated healthy donors. Four weeks after delivery in maternal and in control serum a significant increase in MMNLC reactivity could be observed, which disappeared at 16 weeks when a pronounced decline in MMNLC values in both directions was found. The suppressive effect of maternal serum was more pronounced at delivery, still evident 4 weeks later, and insignificant after 16 weeks. The results of this study suggest that 4 weeks after delivery, maternal sensitization to fetal histocompatibility antigens can be detected in primiparae with MMNLC; and that 16 weeks later, this was no longer detectable with the same test.

Differences in sensitivity to melphalan between Con A-activated and nonactivated human T-cell subsets

In vitro treatment with melphalan (L-PAM, L-phenylalanine mustard), 2 micrograms/2 X 10(6) cells, significantly decreased the total number of E-rosette-positive (E+) T lymphocytes from peripheral blood (PBL) of healthy human donors as well as those of the OKT4 (precursor suppressor/helper/inducer T cells) and OKT17 populations (suppressor cells within the OKT4 subset). The OKT8 population (cytotoxic/mature suppressor cells) was not affected by a similar L-PAM treatment. The sensitivity of concanavalin A (Con A)-activated E+ T-cell populations to subsequent L-PAM treatment in vitro was different from that of Con A-untreated T cells: Thus, L-PAM treatment did not affect the expression of OKT3 and OKT4 antigens, increased the percentage of OKT17 cells, and inhibited the expression of OKT8 antigen. Depletion of OKT8 from Con A-activated E+ T cells (OKT4+-OKT8(-)-OKT17+) did not affect their suppressive activity on PHA stimulation in L-PAM-treated as well as untreated cells. Further depletion of OKT17+ cells from the OKT4+-OKT8(-)-OKT17+ subset (OKT4+-OKT8(-)-OKT17-) abolished the suppressive effect on PHA stimulation. Suppressive activity of the OKT4+-OKT8(-)-OKT17- subset was again evident after treatment of this population with L-PAM. The results obtained indicate that the sensitivity to L-PAM treatment of various T-cell phenotypes is changed by Con A activation and that after depletion of specific T suppressor cells L-PAM seems affect the immunoregulatory circuit within the Con A-activated OKT4 subset.

Lymphocyte reactivity in the aged.

Lymphocyte reactivity in cultures toward the nonspecific T and B cell mitogens, phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and pokeweed (PWM), was studied in 46 subjects in three groups: a) young healthy persons, b) elderly healthy persons, and c) hospitalized elderly patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. No statistically significant differences in the lymphocyte reactivity of young and old healthy persons toward PHA could be observed with different incubation times, mitogen concentrations, or serum sources. A significantly decreased lymphocyte response was found in elderly hospitalized patients compared to young and elderly healthy subjects. In contrast, no differences in the lymphocyte reactivity toward PWM could be found among the three groups, including a comparison between elderly healthy and elderly hospitalized persons. The results suggest that the B lymphocyte‐dependent response to a B lymphocyte stimulator is more stable than is the T cell response in aged subjects.