Immunofluorescent staining of the surfaces of lymphocytes in suspension from patients with dengue hemorrhagic fever.

Immunofluorescent staining of lymphocytes suspensions from 55 of 62 patients with dengue hemorrhagic fever was positive for dengue antigen and human beta1C/a-globulin on the surface, from the second ay before shock or subsidence of fever. The percentages of positive staining of both components gradually increased to a maximum on the day of shock or subsidence of fever. B lymphocytes increased during the course of the disease. Neither dengue antigen nor human beta1C/a-globulin was detected on the surface of the lymphocytes from normal controls or patients with other diseases. By double immunofluorescent staining with different colors of fluorochromes, antidengue antibody with fluorescein isothiocyanate and antihuman gamma -globulin or antihuman beta1C/a-globulin with lissamine rhodamine B on the same lymphocytes revealed dengue antigen appearing only on B lymphocytes. The human beta1C/a-globulin and dengue antigen were located on the surface of the same lymphocytes. The pattern of the staining by both components showed fine and coarse irregular granules over the lymphocyte surface. The fluorescent granules seemed to be on the surface but not in the intracellular vacuoles of the lymphocytes.