Meeting report on recent advances on T-lymphocytes in normal and leukemia patients.

We report on the main topics discussed at the "Human T-Lymphocytes in Normal and Leukemia Patients" meeting, including the "Second International Workshop on T-Cell Colonies" (Reggio Calabria, September 16-19, 1984). Improved knowledge in the field of T-lymphocyte biology has contributed greatly to a better clinical definition of T-cell-derived lymphoproliferative disorders. The T-cell colony assay seems to represent a useful tool for studying the early steps of T-lymphocyte maturation and for characterizing accessory cells and soluble mediators that regulate T-cell proliferation.

Increase of hybridoma formation by human lymphocytes after stimulation in vitro; effect of antigen, endothelial cells, and PWM.

Peripheral blood lymphocytes from antibody-producing Rh- donors were fused with mouse myeloma cells, and the hybrids were screened for anti-Rh antibody production. Although the resulting hybrids were not stable in long-term culture, they provided a useful test system for an investigation of ways to stimulate human lymphocytes in vitro before fusion in order to maximize the recovery of hybrids producing antibodies with a desired specificity. Although 6-day culture with PWM or with antigen (Rh+ erythrocytes) increased slightly the yield of desired hybrids, exposure of the PBL to antigen in the presence of human endothelial cells was dramatically more effective.