Expression of CD11b (Leu15) antigen on CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD16+ peripheral lymphocytes. Estimation of CD3+8+11b+ and CD3+4-8-11b+ T-cell subsets using a single laser flow cytometer.
CD11b (Leu15) epitope is expressed on 20-30% of peripheral blood lymphocytes, including CD16+ large granular lymphocytes and CD8+ cells. This study confirms that 30% of CD8+ lymphocytes and virtually all CD16+ NK cells from healthy subjects express this determinant. In parallel, our data show that various proportions of CD3+4-8-, TCR-delta cytotoxic T lymphocytes and occasionally CD4+ lymphocytes subsets could also express this epitope. The CD8+11b+ phenotype is associated with suppression of T-cell proliferative response and has been extensively used to characterize suppressor T lymphocytes. Since about 25% of CD8 lymphocytes are non-T (CD3-) and express the CD16 NK antigen (CD8+16+3-), the expression of CD11b was also studied on CD8+3+ T-cell and CD8+16+ NK-cell subsets. To this end, we developed three methods using a flow cytometer equipped with a single laser and two fluorescence detectors. Results showed that T CD8+3+11b+ and NK CD8+16+11b+ lymphocytes account for 30% and 70% of CD8+11b+ cells respectively. Consequently, the CD8+3+11b+ phenotype would be more specific for suppressor T lymphocytes than the total CD8+11b+ phenotype which includes high proportions of CD16+ NK cells.
Gane
P
P
Institut National de Transfusion Sanguine, Paris, France.
Fain
O
O
Mansour
I
I
Roquin
H
H
Rouger
P
P
D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007834:Lasers; D016177:Macrophage-1 Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011961:Receptors, Fc / Q000096:biosynthesis; D017452:Receptors, IgG; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*
D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D016177:Macrophage-1 Antigen; D011961:Receptors, Fc; D017452:Receptors, IgG