DR-bearing T lymphocytes in thoracic duct lymph

Abstract

T cells having DR antigens were shown to be present in high numbers in the thoracic duct lymph of patients undergoing long-term drainage. As drainage progresses the proportion of T DR cells in the lymph increases to levels as high as 70% at 6 weeks. These cells were demonstrated by showing that T cells isolated by sheep red cell rosetting were killed by the action of rabbit anti-B-cell sera and of HLA-DR antisera. The HLA-DR specificities found on the T cells corresponded with those on the patients’ B lymphocytes.

FIG. 1

Percentage of Ia-positive T cells (E rosetting) in thoracic duct following drainage. Each (●) represents thoracic duct cells from a different patient. *Score: 1 = 0–10%; 2 = 11–20%; 4 = 21–40%; 6 = 41–80%; 8 = 81–100%.