Immunological activity of blood lymphocyte fractions. A study by the macrophage electrophoretic mobility method

Abstract

Samples of human blood-lymphocytes from patients with cancer, multiple sclerosis or cerebral haemorrhage were separated on a discontinuous Ficoll gradient. Six to eight fractions were obtained in which one or two fractions contained a large number of small lymphocytes. The fractions were incubated with encephalitogenic factor or tumour antigen and guinea-pig macrophages, after which the macrophages' electrophoretic mobility (EMR) was measured. The fractions with a density between 1·075 and 1·090, and containing a high percentage of small lymphocytes, produced a significant EMR in these patients and it was concluded that the cells responsible for cellular immunological activity were also responsible for reductions in the electrophoretic mobility.