Notes on the Development of Lymphocytes.

Abstract

The author has noticed that fully matured lymphocytes, polymorphonuclear leucocytes and many other mononuclear cells will not grow in a tissue culture. Other reactions of these cells when compared with those of fixed tissues indicate that they have suffered decided changes from the mother cells from which they arise.

The migration of fixed tissue cells, including the mother cells of the lymphocytes and leucocytes, is the result of their liberating a lipoid blood coagulating substance which has been named the ergusia. Their growth is also dependent upon this same substance. The migration of the leucocytes and lymphocytes is not associated with the liberation of this coagulating substance. They migrate apparently by dissolving paths in a solid clotted medium. They possess fermentative reactions, but have lost their power to liberate the ergusia in their differentiations. 1

They are not important in aiding the body against invading organisms. Bacteria placed in the medium near a fragment of spleen causes this fragment to be disintegrated almost entirely into lymphocytic cells. 2 These lymphocytes show, however, no resistance to the bacteria. They migrate readily and in practically every case directly in and among the growing bacterial cells. Fixed tissue cells on the other hand are strongly antagonistic to these growing bacteria. 1 The fixed tissue cells invade areas of the medium containing bacteria only when their growth activity is greater than that of the bacteria. The bacteria then cease to grow in their presence. This is strikingly seen in cultures of actively growing embryonic tissue or of cancer. 3 When the bacteria are growing very actively the fixed tissue cells cease to become active at the boundary of the zone of activity of the bacteria. 4