Rosette formation by peripheral lymphocytes.

TLDR: It is concluded that sheep cell rosette formation by human peripheral lymphocytes is not due to humoral antibody or delayed hypersensitivity, because of the great proportion of lymphocytes that are capable of it.

Abstract: In preparations of human peripheral lymphocytes suspended in serum absorbed with sheep red cells, up to 30% of the lymphocytes may make rosettes with sheep erythrocytes. Washed lymphocytes suspended in Hanks' solution make many rosettes if tested without delay. Such lymphocytes rapidly lose their capacity to make rosettes, but it can be restored by adding the serum of man or of the horse, rabbit or guinea-pig. The lymphocytes of three newborn babies, and of one adult who had no detectable antisheep agglutinin in the serum, made rosettes with sheep cells. Rosette formation is uncorrelated with serum agglutinin levels. Many normal adults have far higher titres of agglutinins against the red cells of other animals than against sheep cells; yet their lymphocytes do not make rosettes with the cells of these other animals. Sodium cyanide (0·01 M) abolished rosette formation, and horse antihuman lymphocyte globulin inhibits it. It is concluded that sheep cell rosette formation by human peripheral lymphocytes is not due to humoral antibody or delayed hypersensitivity, because of the great proportion of lymphocytes that are capable of it. Its nature is obscure, but it is suggested that it may be due to a substance, not primarily an antibody, that is elaborated by a large proportion of circulating lymphocytes and cross-reacts with some red cell antigens as plant lectins do. Caution is advised in using the system to test antihuman lymphocyte serum until more is known about it.