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Human lymphocytes were derived from the spleen of a 15-year-old female patient after partial splenectomy. High cell yield and percentage of human B-lymphocytes (over 30%) gave useful conditions for their fusion to mouse myeloma cells (P3 X63/Ag8/653). Fusion efficiency (cultures with growth) was 96%. From 288 initially seeded cultures 176 showed IgM and only one IgG production as determined by enzyme immunoassays. Twenty primary cell lines were cloned with differing results and 17 heterohybridoma cell clones with high IgM production rates could be established for more than 6 months in vitro. The present results show the possibility to produce human monoclonal antibodies in heterohybrids derived from human spleen lymphocytes.

In a group of 23 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus by means of monoclonal antibodies differentiation markers were investigated on peripheral blood T-lymphocytes. Individual specific differences in the percentage of T1-, T3-, T4- and T8-positive cells were found, indicating various possibilities of immunological disorders in this disease. Furthermore, in comparison with healthy donors, an increased number of T4-, T8-double stained cells was detected in the peripheral blood of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Normally, this cell phenotype can be detected in the thymus only. Therefore, it becomes necessary to perform parallel and simultaneous determinations, respectively, of several T cell markers in order to gain a more exact insight into the disturbances of the immune system and to exclude incorrect interpretations of the phenotypical distribution of T cell markers.

Isolated lymphocytes from peripheral blood of 22 healthy donors were examined with the help of the indirect membrane immunofluorescence (MIF) for immunoglobulin determinants on the surface of the cells. The quantity of MIF+-cells for IgM was on the average 8.7% (3-18) and for IgG 15.5%(8-18). Five different anti-IgM-sera were characterised with regard to their use in the MIF (precipitation titre, entire protein content, content of anti-IgM-antibodies). Differences in the quantity of the MIF+-lymphocytes were above all based on differing antibody concentrations of the sera. It was referred to further possible causes for these differences. The influence on the results of the examinations by protein addition and trypsination.

The influence of steroids on lymphocyte responses was tested in vitro. The inhibition of early events of lymphocyte stimulation and cell proliferation after PHA stimulation was estimated. We found, however, different individual responses of immune cells of various donors to the preparations dexamethasone, prednisolone, hydrocortisone or methylprednisolone in both in vitro models tested. Steroid treatment of lymphocyte cultures resulted in both inhibition and enhancement of PWM-driven Ig synthesis in cultures derived from different test persons. In experiments with lymphocytes from patients with acute systemic lupus erythematosus we found a dramatically enhanced PWM-stimulated IgG synthesis which is disturbed in cultures of these patients. The individuality of steroid sensitivity of lymphocyte cultures of healthy test persons and the abnormal reactivity of SLE lymphocytes were discussed in relation to therapeutical applications.

During the last years monoclonal antibodies have become an important constituent of the clinical diagnostic systems for the detection of various humoral and cellular antigens. By means of monoclonal antibodies new knowledge could be observed in the typing of leukaemias and in the functional characterization of immune cells. Furthermore, possibilities of therapeutical use of monoclonal antibodies and present problems concerning this matter are discussed. The development of human monoclonal antibodies will be helpful in the solution of some of these problems.

The specific binding of antigens by antibodies leads to the development of antigen-antibody-complexes. Apart from the connected with this and desirable immunological protection immune complexes, however, may also have an pathogenic effect on certain conditions (e. g. transmission of the capacity of phagocytosis), depositing themselves in the vascular regions concerned, activating complement and after binding to cell membranes causing the release of unspecific mediators. Finally these lead through increased vascular permeability, local ischaemia and hyperaemia, respectively, and the release of proteolytic enzymes to a lesion of the tissues. In a series of in most cases chronic inflammatory diseases depositions of immune complexes may be proved in the tissues concerned. However, it is difficult to establish exactly in the individual case, whether they considerably participated in the development of the clinical picture. By analogies to experimentally produced immune complex diseases at least some entities of diseases (e. g. lupus erythematodes disseminatus) or defined local alterations of the tissues (e. g. glomerulonephritis of immune complex type) may be defined pathogenetically.

It is reported on a case of heavy chain disease in a 41-year-old man. It is a special form of the malignant lymphoma. The clinical picture of our patient distinguishes itself by an extraordinarily long course (more than 10 years enlargement of the spleen, since more than 5 years hypogammaglobulinaemia), abdominal malignant lymphomas with hepatosplenomegaly and perhaps connected with this intermittingly appearing acute epigastric complaints as well as the signs of a severe immunoinsufficiency. Homogenic Fc-(gamma)fragments are proved only in the serum in a concentration of 0.8 g/100 ml.