| pubmed-article:3157802 | pubmed:abstractText | Nine patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) were studied for suppressor cell activity utilizing an allogeneic mixed lymphocyte culture technique. The patients studied had opportunistic infections and a high incidence of intravenous drug abuse. T lymphocytes of the AIDS patients showed a consistently greater ability to suppress immunoglobulin M (IgM) synthesis by pokeweed mitogen stimulated allogeneic lymphocytes compared to controls (p less than 0.03). In 4 patients, T helper function was studied and compared to controls. Diminished helper cell function was consistently observed (p less than 0.01). All AIDS patients had leu 3a/leu 2a ratios of less than 0.9. However, a statistical correlation between the helper/suppressor cell ratio and suppressor activity was not demonstrated. Functional tests of T lymphocytes may be of value in assessing immunocompetence in patients with altered lymphocyte subset ratios. | lld:pubmed |
