title: Peanut agglutinin. IV. A tool for studying human mononuclear cell differentiation.
abstract: Peanut agglutinin (PNA) has previously been shown to be a 'marker' for early T subpopulations in mice. We have investigated whether it could also be used in the study of human mononuclear cells. 50--60% of human thymocytes have binding sites for PNA. When separated on a discontinuous Ficoll gradient, the PNA-positive thymocytes are found preferentially in the layers corresponding to the immunoincompetent cells. In the peripheral blood only 5% of the mononuclear cells are PNA-positive and we have shown that these cells are monocytes. In tonsils 13% of PNA+ cells are found and they are mostly lymphocytes. Thus, PNA is a marker for some T cell subsets present in the thymus and tonsils.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D010367:Arachis; D001665:Binding Sites; D002469:Cell Separation; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007158:Immunologic Techniques; D007223:Infant; D037102:Lectins / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000276:immunology; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000166:cytology; D037121:Plant Lectins; D012397:Rosette Formation; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology
chemical_list: D037102:Lectins; D037121:Plant Lectins; D003208:Concanavalin A