E Rosette Formation by Human T Lymphocytes: A Spontaneous Cell Mediated Cytotoxic Phencmenon

The nature and significance of spontaneous association between unsensitized human T lymphocytes and sheep erythrocytes has Seen studied in relation to a possible cytotoxic reaction. Human lymphocytes and 51Cr labelled sheep erythrocytes when mixed in ratios of 5 or 10:l released 70–100% of 51Cr into the supernatants. This suggests that E rosette formation may be the first step in a spontaneous T cell mediated cytotoxic reaction to sheep erythrocytes.