An Lyt differentiated thymocyte subpopulation detected by flow microfluorometry (original) (raw)

Nature volume 277, pages 478–480 (1979)Cite this article

Abstract

DATA on the T-cell antigens, Lyt 1, 2, 3 (refs 1, 2), relating to functional T-cell subsets, suggest that some peripheral T cells express restricted Lyt phenotypes, that is, Lyt 1+23− or Lyt 1−23+ (ref. 3). Evidence has been presented showing that two major subpopulations of lymphocytes, Lyt 1+ T cells and Lyt 23+ T cells, are committed to particular lines of functional differentiation in the immune response before encountering exogenous antigen in peripheral lymphoid tissue4,5. It has been suggested that the two major subpopulations representing T-cell help (Lyt 1+) and T-cell cytotoxicity or suppression (Lyt 23+) arise in the periphery from peripheral Lyt 123+ cells6. Recent studies have concluded that as stem cells mature in the thymus, the thymic epithelium is important in determining which H–2 specificities the maturing T cells are able to recognise as self7. Previous cytotoxicity data have been interpreted as indicating that Lyt 1, 2, 3 antigens are expressed on each of most if not all, mouse thymocytes; that is, that most thymocytes are Lyt 123+ (refs 1–4, 8–10). However, the data presented here suggest that the commitment to differentiation of the Lyt 1+ or the Lyt 123+ phenotype, and thus presumably the relevant functional differentiation occurs before cell migration from the thymus. Using flow microfluorometry (FMF) and anti-Lyt antisera, we demonstrate a normal thymocyte subpopulation which is not expressing Lyt 2 or Lyt 3 antigens (Lyt 1+23−). This subpopulation represents a significant constant proportion (10%) of normal thymocytes which is markedly increased following in vivo cortisone treatment. The data also show that Lyt 1 expression, rather than being decreased on cortisone-resistant thymocytes (CRT), as would have been predicted from previous cytotoxicity data2,8, is expressed in increased amounts on CRT.

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Author notes

  1. P. S. CAMPBELL: Deceased

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Microbial Immunity, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, 20014
    B. J. MATHIESON, S. O. SHARROW, P. S. CAMPBELL & R. ASOFSKY

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  1. B. J. MATHIESON
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  2. S. O. SHARROW
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  3. P. S. CAMPBELL
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  4. R. ASOFSKY
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MATHIESON, B., SHARROW, S., CAMPBELL, P. et al. An Lyt differentiated thymocyte subpopulation detected by flow microfluorometry.Nature 277, 478–480 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1038/277478a0

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