PPD‐Specific Proliferative Response in Humans: I. Analysis of PPD‐Specific Proliferative Cells from Tuberculous Pleurisy Patients and Healthy Controls with Monoclonal Antibodies Specific for Human T Subsets

Abstract

Peripheral mononuclear cells (PBL) from tuberculin reaction (TR)-negative tuberculous pleurisy patients proliferated poorly with PPD, while the cells of pleural effusion from these patients showed a proliferative response to PPD as well as did the healthy control PBL. Surface antigens of peripheral blood and pleural effusion were examined by using monoclonal antibodies. The Leu 1-positive cell population can be divided into four groups, namely (I) Leu I+, Leu 2a+, Leu 3a+, (2) Leu 1+, Leu 2a+, Leu 3a-, (3) Leu 1+, Leu 2a-, Leu 3a+, and (4) Leu 1+, Leu 2a -, Leu 3a-cell populations. Results of analysis of surface antigens of PPD-specific proliferative cells in peripheral blood and pleural effusion from tuberculous pleurisy patients as well as healthy controls indicate that the PPD-specific proliferative response is mediated by Leu 1+, Leu 2a-, Leu 3a+ cells and Leu I +, Leu 2a-, Leu 3a-cells.

Novel Abnormality in Subpopulations of Circulating Lymphocytes

“…With the exception of the patient described in this report, it appears that a prolonged elevation in the numbers of Ty8 cells has not been associated with a re sponse to infection; however, lymphocytes with a CD5+, 4', 8" phenotype have been reported in pleuri tic fluid from patients with tuberculosis [25]. These cells, which either could be Ty8 cells or may have been derived from a minor subset of B lymphocytes, seemed to be capable of undergoing a proliferative re sponse when incubated with purified protein deriva tive of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and, in this re gard, it has been interesting to see a recent report of the activation of Ty8 cells during the primary immune response of mice to M. tuberculosis [26].…”