Interaction between a serum factor and T lymphocytes in Gaucher disease.

A defective formation of E rosette from peripheral lymphocytes was observed in five patients with Gaucher disease. Evidence is shown that the reduction of E rosetting capacity is due to serum factors since it was induced in normal lymphocytes incubated with patients' sera. It is likely that ferritin, found elevated in the patients, might be involved in this inhibitory phenomenon. This disfunction might play a role in the high incidence of cancer in Gaucher patients.