Heat production in human blood lymphocytes. A methodological study.

Heat production rates (thermal power) in peripheral blood lymphocytes from healthy subjects were determined under some defined experimental conditions in an attempt to establish by microcalorimetry a basal metabolic reference range for lymphocytes in the non-activated state. The effects of cell isolation method, the presence of other types of blood cells, cell concentration, temperature, pH and type of suspension medium on the rate of heat production by lymphocytes were evaluated. The results indicate that microcalorimetry is suitable for monitoring the metabolism of these cells with good precision in the physiological range of cell concentration.