INVITRO AND INVIVO RESPONSES TO THYMOSIN IN SEVERE COMBINED IMMUNODEFICIENCY

Adenosine deaminase-positive severe combined immunodeficiency with B lymphocytes was diagnosed at 4 months of age in a male infant with a history of oral candidiasis and failure to thrive. In vitro incubation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells with thymosin showed the presence of many thymosin-inducible E-rosette-forming cells. During treatment with thymosin the peripheral blood E-rosette-forming cells rose markedly, null cells decreased, and thymosin-inducible E-rosette-forming cells fell to insignificant levels. After 6 months treatment with thymosin there was no evidence of T-lymphocyte function and, despite a transient increase in peripheral blood IgM-bearing mononuclear cells during the first 2 months of treatment, serum immunoglobulin levels remained unchanged. © 1979.