Response to Stimulation in Vitro of Lymphocytes from Patients with Down's Syndrome 1

Abstract

Summary

An attempt has been made to assess cellular immunity in patients with Down's syndrome (DS) in comparison with controls by evaluating the response of peripheral lymphocytes to specific antigenic stimulation with tuberculin (PPD) as well as to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulation in vitro. Incorporation of ³H-thymidine was measured as the parameter of response to stimulation. The results support the view that, in their response to stimulation by the specific antigen (PPD) or by PHA, the lymphocytes of DS patients are not significantly different from those of mentally retarded (MR) individuals without DS or from those of normal control (NC) individuals.