Specificity of pig T lymphocyte antiserum: cytotoxicity and inhibiting properties onto E-rosette-forming lymphocytes.

The immunoglobulins obtained from a sheep anti-pig thymocyte serum were made specific for a subpopulation of porcine lymphocytes by adsorptions with pig red blood cells and bone marrow cells. In the presence of rabbit complement, these immunoglobulins killed a porcine lymphocyte subpopulation similar to the subpopulation of lymphocytes forming rosettes with sheep red blood cell (E-rosettes) when enhanced by dextran. Without complement, these immunoglobulins inhibited the E-rosette phenomenon at a dilution near to the cytotoxicity titre of the serum, but did not inhibit the rosettes formed with activated zymosan (ZC rosettes). These two different tests revealed the presence of antibodies directed against pig T-lymphocyte specific antigens and allowed the quantitication of T lymphocytes in different organs.