Relationships between 2H4 (CD45RA) and UCHL1 (CD45RO) expression by normal blood CD4+CD8-, CD4-CD8+, CD4-CD8dim+, CD3+CD4-CD8- and CD3-CD4-CD8- lymphocytes.
We characterized and established relationships between the expression of membrane 2H4 (CD45RA) and UCHL1 (CD45RO) by enriched lymphocyte fractions prepared by selective immunomagnetic depletion of monoclonal antibody-defined populations. Cell fractions analysed in this study could be divided into two broad groups according to the presence (CD3+CD4+CD8-, CD3+CD4-CD8+, CD3+CD4-CD8dim+ and CD3+CD4-CD8-) or absence (CD3-CD4-CD8dim+ and CD3-CD4-CD8-) of the CD3 antigen. Preliminary studies confirmed a reciprocal relationship for CD45RA and CD45RO expression by major lymphoid components and further showed that the level or intensity of membrane 2H4 staining (2H4+, 2H4int and 2H4-) could be directly related to UCHL1 expression. As a reflection of their differential functions, the various CD3+ populations examined showed much greater heterogeneity in 2H4 and UCHL1 expression. CD3+CD4+CD8- cells generally showed significant proportions of 2H4+, 2H4int and 2H4- components, whereas the CD3+CD4-CD8+ population was characterized by a predominance of 2H4+ cells. The results of this current investigation further suggested a higher proportion of dual-positive (2H4+UCHL1+) cells and a much greater degree of inter-individual variation than previously suspected. In contrast to CD3+ lymphocytes, natural killer (NK) associated CD3-CD4-CD8dim+ and CD3-CD4-CD8- populations were mostly 2H4+ with only minor 2H4int components and very low expression of UCHL1. An additional observation of note was that the proportions of 2H4+ and 2H4- cells comprising the CD4+CD8- fraction in any given individual was highly correlated (P = 0.002) with the distributions of 2H4+ and 2H4- components within the CD4-CD8+ fraction. This suggests the possible existence of a common control mechanism for the acquisition of immunological memory by distinct lymphocyte populations and further indicates that individual variations in the distribution of 2H4/UCHL1 lymphocyte subpopulations may be a direct consequence of 'immunological experience' rather than age alone.
Richards
S J
SJ
Department of Haematology, Cookridge Hospital, Leeds, England.
Jones
R A
RA
Roberts
B E
BE
Patel
D
D
Scott
C S
CS
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism*; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000378:metabolism*; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000378:metabolism; D017252:CD3 Complex; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D002469:Cell Separation; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000378:metabolism
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015703:Antigens, CD; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D017252:CD3 Complex; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens