T lymphocyte colony assay in hemophiliacs
MV Ragni, A Winkelstein, TL Evans, JH Lewis, FA Bontempo, JA Spero and BS Rabin
Unexplained lymphadenopathy, with or without accompanying symptoms, known
as the "lymphadenopathy syndrome," has been recognized in groups at risk
for acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), namely, homosexuals and
hemophiliacs. To date, however, no test has been defined that discriminates
between asymptomatic individuals and those with adenopathy in these
high-risk groups. The T colony assay, which measures T lymphocyte growth in
soft agar and which allows selective T cell proliferation with minimal
cell-cell contact, was evaluated in asymptomatic hemophiliacs.
Significantly lower mean colony counts were found in eight hemophiliacs
with adenopathy (HA), 763 +/- 348 (+/- SEM), than in 16 healthy
hemophiliacs (HH) 3,044 +/- 661 (P less than .005), or than in 24
heterosexual control subjects, 3,964 +/- 395 (P less than .005). The in
vitro addition of exogenous interleukin-2 (IL- 2) restored normal colony
growth in the HA population. These results indicate that the T colony assay
can detect abnormal cell-mediated immunity among hemophiliacs and
specifically discriminates between asymptomatic hemophiliacs (HH) and those
with adenopathy (HA). In addition, IL-2 may be of potential benefit in
improving T cell defects in AIDS or the "lymphadenopathy syndrome";
however, this remains to be proven.
Volume 64,
Issue 1,
pp. 105-109,
07/01/1984
Copyright © 1984 by The American Society of Hematology
