In vitro augmentation of lymphocyte sheep cell rosette formation by leukocyte dialysates.

We have studied in vitro the effects of leukocyte dialysates containing transfer factor on the formation of sheep cell rosettes by human lymphocytes. Dialysate had no effect on the toral rosettes, but increased the number of rapidly forming ("active") rosettes. This was due to an increased affinity of the lymphocytes for the sheep red cell. Trypsin-treated lymphocytes regained the ability to form rosettes more rapidly when cultured with leukocyte dialysates than with control media. These experiments suggest that leukocyte dialysate acts to increase the number or arrangement of sheep cell receptors on the lymphocyte surface.