Abstract
A population of lymphocytes in human umbilical cord blood has been shown to be actively dividing: by the taking up of tritiated thymidine when in culture. The ability of these cells to bind E (sheep erythrocytes), EA (ox red cells treated with rabbit anti-ox IgG), and EAC (ox red cells treated with rabbit anti-ox IgM and complement) in order to determine whether they belong to a thymic or a bone marrow dependant group of lymphocytes. Autoradiography of the rosettes obtained initially showed that the majority of the dividing cells bound to none of the indicator cells used. Using a modified system, more cells were accounted for. Allogeneic enhancement of tritiated thymidine uptake in unidirectional mixed lymphocyte culture suggest that the stimulus for this lymphocyte division to occur may be provided by membrane bound maternal antigens. These results suggest that the foetus may mount an immune response against the mother, although the significance of this response is not clear.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Stern, C., Scopes, J. Membrane binding characteristics of a dividing population of lymphocytes in human umbilical cord blood. Pediatr Res 8, 918 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197411000-00107
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197411000-00107