Identification of circulating maternal T and B lymphocytes in uncomplicated severe combined immunodeficiency by HLA typing of subpopulations of T cells separated by the fluorescence-activated cell sorter and of Epstein Barr virus-derived B cell lines.

Circulating maternal T cells were sought in a child with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) and no evidence of acute graft-vs-host disease, but who had small numbers (9 to 11%) of circulating T3-positive cells. HLA typing of unfractionated peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) and of isolated E rosette-forming cells (37 to 44% of PBL) failed to reveal the presence of maternal lymphocytes. T3-positive cells isolated by the fluorescence-activated cell sorter, however, expressed exclusively maternal HLA antigens. A lymphoblastoid B cell line established by infecting the patient's PBL with Epstein Barr virus then expressed exclusively maternal HLA antigens. The presence of maternal T and B cells in uncomplicated SCID may be more common than thought previously and calls for a careful assessment of the origin of any mature T cells that are present in affected infants. In addition, the presence of maternal cells in SCID may complicate the infant's therapy.