Phenotypically and functionally distinct subpopulations of human
lymphocytes with T cell markers also exhibit different cytochemical
patterns of staining for lysosomal enzymes
A Landay, LT Clement and CE Grossi
Human peripheral blood lymphocytes that express T cell markers, when
reacted for the cytochemical localization of lysosomal acid hydrolases,
display two major patterns of staining, i.e., dot-like and scattered
granular. Previous attempts to fractionate T cells according to surface
markers have yielded populations of cells with heterogeneous patterns of
cytochemical staining. In this study, peripheral blood cells forming
rosettes with sheep erythrocytes have been fractionated by sequential
staining with two monoclonal antibodies, D12 and 2D2, followed by
fluorescence-activated cell sorting. These reagents have been shown
previously to recognize a subpopulation of cells capable of suppressing T
cell proliferation. All of the cells positive for D12 and 2D2 stained for
acid hydrolases with the scattered granular pattern, whereas the large
majority of the cells negative for both markers stained with the dot-like
pattern. It is concluded that suppressor cells within the E+ cell fraction
have the cytochemical characteristics of large granular lymphocytes.
Volume 63,
Issue 5,
pp. 1067-1071,
05/01/1984
Copyright © 1984 by The American Society of Hematology
