The influence of autologous erythrocytes on active T-cells rosetting with sheep red blood cells and on DNA synthesis.

The addition of autologous erythrocytes to a mixture of human peripheral blood lymphocytes and sheep red blood cells (SRBC) alters the spontaneous rosetting reaction in the test detecting the active fraction of T lymphocytes (ARFC). Increase in rosetting is more often observed in mixtures containing smaller human red blood cell: lymphocyte ratios, while inhibition occurred in those containing a higher ratio. Autologous erythrocytes also affected DNA synthesis when added to three-day lymphocyte cultures, unstimulated or stimulated with BCG. These effects were more strongly pronounced when phagocytic cells were removed from lymphocytes tested.