Frequency distribution of alpha, gamma, kappa and lambda polypeptide chains in human lymphoid tissues.

Abstract

Fluorescent antibody preparations of different colors and specificities have been used to determine the qualitative and quantitative distribution of four kinds of immunoglobulin polypeptide chains in human splenic tissue. Single cells were found to contain one kind of heavy chain and one kind of light chain, but rarely, if at all, did two kinds of light chain (κ and λ) coexist in a single cell. Similarly, the heavy chains, α and γ, appeared to be mutually exclusive. The relative frequency of the two kinds of light chains paralleled the relative serum concentrations of these moieties. Cells containing γ chains were slightly more frequent than cells containing α chains, but not to the extent anticipated by the relative serum concentrations of these two immunoglobulins.