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The In Vitro Effect of a Calf Thymus Extract (Thymostimulin) on T Cell Phenotypes in Cord Blood Lymphocytes
Author(s) -
VELARDI A.,
GERLI R.,
RAMBOTTI P.,
SPINOZZI F.,
CERNETTI C.,
ANGELINI A.,
MARTELLI M.F.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
american journal of reproductive immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1600-0897
pISSN - 0271-7352
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0897.1982.tb00177.x
Subject(s) - cord blood , monoclonal antibody , rosette (schizont appearance) , phenotype , population , immunology , andrology , t cell , microbiology and biotechnology , in vitro , biology , t lymphocyte , cell , cord , medicine , antibody , immune system , gene , genetics , environmental health , surgery
An investigation was carried out on the in vitro effect of a calf thymus extract, thymostimulin, on the distribution of T cell phenotypes as defined by OKT3, OKT4, and OKT8 murine monoclonal antibodies and on E‐rosetting cells in human cord blood lymphocytes from healthy newborns. The percentages of E‐rosette‐forming lymphocytes and OKT3 + total T population were lower in newborns than in adults (E‐rosettes: 43.8% ± 13% vs 57.9% ± 7.9%, p < 0.01; OKT3 + cells: 53.3% ± 15.5% vs 79.9% ± 4.7%, p < 0.01), while the OKT4 + /OKT8 + (helper/suppressor) cell ratio was normal in both (newborns: 3.40; adults: 2.44—NS). Thymostimulin increased the number of E‐rosette‐forming cells from 43.8% ± 13% to 49.9% ± 12.7% (p < 0.01), as well as the percentage of phenotypic T lymphocytes. The highest increases were observed in the OKT4 + cells (37.7% ± 14% to 49.1% ± 13.8%, p < 0.001), while smaller changes were observed in the OKT3 + cells (53.3% ± 15.5% to 58.1% ± 13.3%, p < 0.02) and OKT8 + cells (12.8% ± 6.4% to 16.6% ± 6.5%, p < 0.02). The results of the present study suggest that thymostimulin mainly provokes an increase in the helper T cell phenotype in cord blood lymphocytes.