Subpopulations of human T lymphocytes. XVII. Imbalance of T cell subsets in patients with progeria and Werner's syndrome.

Peripheral blood from 4 patients with progeria and their family members and 2 patients with Werner's syndrome were analyzed for the proportion of total T cells and T cells with receptors for IgM (Tmu) or IgG (Tgamma). In 3 patients proportions of Tmu cells were within the range for age- and sex-matched controls. 1 patient had significantly lower proportions of Tmu cells when compared to age- and sex-matched controls. The proportions of Tgamma cells were increased in 2 and were within the range for normal controls in the remaining 2 patients. When data were analyzed with regard to Tmu/Tgamma ratios, 3 of 4 patients exhibited ratios lower than the lowest limit observed in age- and sex-matched controls. Surprisingly, family members in all four families exhibited patterns of Tmu and Tgamma cells similar to that seen in the patient. Both patients with Werner's syndrome had proportions of Tgamma cells, resulting in low Tmu/Tgamma ratios.