Influence of streptolysin S on lymphocyte functions.

Streptolysin S, which was found to be cytotoxic for mouse and human lymphocytes and particularly for their T subpopulation, was also shown to affect some of the functions ascribed to T lymphocytes. In vitro studies demonstrated that streptolysin S-pretreated lymphocytes exhibited reduced responsiveness to phytohemagglutinin and decreased lymphokine production. Streptolysin S could also alter the immune response of mice in vivo.

Immune responsiveness of irradiated mice reconstituted with complement receptor positive CLR+ or negative CLR--lymphocytes from spleen or bone marrow.

Spleen and bone marrow cells depleted of CRL cannot restore immune reactivity of irradiated mice to sheep red blood cells SRBC. The response to anti-SIII, a T-independent antigen does not change when irradiated animals are repopulated with spleen cells or spleen cells depleted of CRL. Spleen cells of 6-day-old mice having low number of CRL, in contrast to spleen cells of adult animals, could not reconstitute irradiated recipients.

T and B lymphocytes, immunoglobulins and complement components in bronchial asthma.

Sixty children, 7--15 years old, suffering from bronchial asthma and 44 healthy children, 12--14 years old, were studied for the percentage and the total count per mm.3 of T and B lymphocytes. Patients were classified into extrinsic atopic, mixed and intrinsic asthma.