Characterization of normal human lung lymphocytes and interleukin-2-induced lung T cell lines.
Lymphocytes from the lower respiratory tract were obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage of healthy, non-smoking individuals. Various monoclonal antibodies characterizing activated T cells, helper-inducer and suppressor-inducer T cell subsets, and naive versus memory cells were used to define the phenotype of these lymphocytes. The highly variable CD4/CD8 ratio (0.3 to 6.6; mean = 2.1) and the large proportion of the T cells expressing HLA-DR (9 to 38%; mean = 21%) suggested that the T cells were recently activated by antigens selectively stimulating either helper or cytotoxic/suppressor T cell function. Indeed, the CD45RA antigen, a marker characteristic of suppressor-inducer T cells when coexpressed with CD4, and naive T cells in general, was absent from T cells in most preparations (0 to 17%; mean = 5%), while the CD45RO antigen, a marker of memory cells and immature thymocytes, was present on 68 to 100% of all lung T cells. The majority (greater than 70%) of the CD4+ helper T cells was CD45RO+ CD45RA-, a phenotype found on T cells that provide help for B cell immunoglobulin synthesis. Lung T cells proliferated poorly in response to phytohemagglutinin and concanavalin A but did respond to activation with low concentrations of anti-CD3 mAb (2 to 25 ng/ml) and to interleukin-2 (IL-2) alone to similar extent as did autologous peripheral blood lymphocytes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Becker
S
S
ABB-Environmental Services Inc., Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Harris
D T
DT
Koren
H S
HS
D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D017252:CD3 Complex; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D002460:Cell Line; D002469:Cell Separation; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000502:physiology*; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000502:physiology*; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000502:physiology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015703:Antigens, CD; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D017252:CD3 Complex; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell