Analysis of T-lymphocyte subpopulations in juvenile-onset diabetics.

In juvenile-onset diabetics (JOB) subpopulations of T-lymphocytes in the peripheral blood have been analysed by the E-rosetting technique. We determined the number of 'low', 'intermediate' and 'high affinity' ('active') rosette forming T-cells by the use of three different lymphocyte:sheep red blood cell ratios in the assay. When comparing the percentage and absolute number of peripheral T-cells between twenty well controlled JODs and twenty normal persons a slight reduction was found in diabetics. Of the three T-lymphocyte subpopulations only active rosette forming cells appeared to be affected. We conclude that minor differences exist in number and characteristics of peripheral blood T-cells between well controlled JODs and normal persons.