Surface immunoglobulins (SmIg) in human B-lymphocytes: effect of enzymatic digestion
Mariani, E.; Stefanini, G.F.; Ferruzzi, A.; Garagnani, M.; Facchini, A.
Bollettino della Societa Italiana di Biologia Sperimentale 55(5): 411-416
1979
ISSN/ISBN: 0037-8771 PMID: 399852 Document Number: 152654
In order to determine the number of circulating B lymphocytes which can synthetize their surface membrane immunoglobulins, we have evaluated by immunofluorescence their presence before and after enzymatic exposure to pronase. After pronase treatment the majority of lymphocytes carrying SmIg has been disappeared (from 7.8% to 1.9%; p < .0.0005). After 18 hours incubaton only a small proportion (4.6%) of B lymphocytes risynthetized their SmIg. This observation support the hypothesis that a subset of lymphocytes present in the peripheral blood carries on its membrane only cytophilic SmIg and therefore may interfere in the determination of the number of B lymphocytes.