Cell-mediated immunity in idiopathic autoimmune haemolytic disease.

Membrane antigens from autologous and from allogeneic red blood cells (RBC) induced migration inhibition of splenic leucocytes and transformation of peripheral blood lymphocytes from a patient with idiopathic autoimmune haemolytic disease (AHD). No migration inhibition occurred following stimulation of splenic leucocytes obtained during splenectomy from a patient with beta-thalassaemia major. Lymphocyte transformation did not occur when normal lymphocytes were stimulated by similar RBC membrane preparations. These findings indicate that autosensitization in AHD may be a function of both humoral and cellular immune mechanisms.