Distribution of B, T, and O lymphocytes in blood and tissues of normal humans reflecting a kinetic model.

The occurrence of the lymphocyte subpopulations TE, BFc, BC3, BFc + C3, BIg, and O-, percentage as well as absolute, was studied in lymphocyte suspensions from tonsils, abdominal lymph nodes, spleens, bone-marrow aspirates, and at the same time in venous blood. The absolute lymphocyte content (number of lymphocytes per g tissue) was highest in the abdominal lymph nodes, lower in the spleens and tonsils, and lowest in the blood. TE lymphocytes were found in the significantly highest percentage, 60%, in the blood. B lymphocytes, comprising BFc + C3 plus BIg, were present in the highest percentage in the bone marrow: 74%. Tonsils, spleens, and abdominal lymph nodes contained fewer B lymphocytes, and the blood fewest: 39%. A significant correlation was found only between the absolute numbers of T and B lymphocytes. A relationship between the absolute number of T lymphocytes and the total number of B lymphocytes as well as fractions thereof was thus demonstrated in the various tissues and in the blood and also between the blood and the tissue. O- lymphocytes were found in bone marrow, lymph nodes, and spleens, apparently as markerless precursors of other subpopulations. The main conclusion of the study is: In the lymphocytokinetic system the T lymphocytes must play a guiding role as an afferent vector, trigging the B fractions which thus constitute the efferent vector of the system.