The influence of lymphocytes on blood proteins in vitro.

Autologous IgG, IgM and IgA globulins were assayed quantitatively by the immunodiffusion method in cultures of white blood cells from 14 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. In cases in which levels of IgG in the patient's blood were lower than 1,000 mg/100 ml, the IgG globulin was statistically significantly deficient in the cultures. Moreover, concentrations of IgG in the culture supernatant and absolute lymphocytosis were moderately strongly correlated. These observations indicate that the white blood cells of leukemia patients combine with IgG in their environment, and that this may be one of the mechanisms leading to hypogammaglobulinemia.