Cell surface markers for human T and B lymphocytes

Abstract

Abstract A series of 4 cell surface marker systems have been developed and applied to human thymus, tonsil and purified blood lymphocyte populations. Double fluorochrome and mixed fluorochrome‐rosette tests were used to determine cellular specificity and interrelationship of cells bearing the different markers and the results confirmed by a variety of cell separation procedures. Anti‐brain antisera were, after appropriate absorption, T cell‐specific and identified the same population as that forming rosettes with sheep erythrocytes. This T cell population was quite distinct from those cells, presumably B lymphcytes, with cell surface immunoglobulin readily demonstrable by fluorescence. A small proportion of “lymphoid” cells (“null” cells) lacked all three markers. Heat‐aggregated human IgG (AggHIgG) was also used as a presumptive B cell marker and the results indicate that although most B lymphocytes do bind AggHIgG, presumably via an Fc receptor, a small proportion of thymocytes and presumptive T cells in tonsils also appear to possess a similar receptor. Almost all of these cells in tonsil were in fact lymphoblasts, thus raising the possibility that an Fc receptor is exposed or expressed on T lymphocytes when these cells are activated.