Phenotypic changes in a CD4+ lymphocyte subset correlate with a conversion from suppressor to helper inducer function.
The monoclonal antibodies WR16 (CD45RA) and WR19 were used to isolate two reciprocal subsets of CD4 lymphocytes by negative selection. The CD4+/WR16-/WR19+ subset exhibited helper-inducer activity in a pokeweed mitogen (PWM)-driven Ig secretion assay, whereas the CD4+/WR16+/WR19- subset showed suppressor activity. When the CD4+/WR16+/WR19- subset was cultured in phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) or purified protein derivative (PPD) there was increased expression of the antigen binding WR19 but the cells remained WR16 negative. Cultures of CD4+/WR16+/WR19- lymphocytes with PHA or PPD induced a phenotypic change that resulted in a population which was CD4+/WR16-/WR19+. Investigation of the functional activity of the CD4+/WR16+/WR19- subset, before and after activation and phenotypic change to WR16-/WR19+, indicated that the change in phenotype correlated with a functional conversion from suppressor to helper-inducer activity. These results suggest that the CD4+/WR16+/WR19- suppressor subset comprises cells that differentiate to WR16-/WR19+ helper-inducer cells after exposure to antigen or mitogen.
Nesbitt
A M
AM
University Department of Pathology, Southampton General Hospital, U.K.
Jones
D B
DB
Moore
K
K
D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008211:Lymphocyte Cooperation / Q000276:immunology; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology
D015704:CD4 Antigens; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D008934:Mitogens