title: Description of phenotypically distinct T-lymphocyte subsets which mediate helper/DTH and cytotoxic functions in the Syrian hamster.
abstract: Recent studies describe aberrations in the functions of T lymphocytes from Syrian hamsters. A current proposal links the apparent functional deficiencies of cytotoxic and suppressor T cells with anomalies found in class I molecules of this species (no polymorphism is detected) and speculates that hamsters possess limited heterogeneity of T cell subpopulations, particularly a class I-restricted subset. The present work tests this hypothesis by examining the extent of T cell heterogeneity defined by differential cell surface antigen expression. A panel of mouse monoclonal antibodies against hamster lymphocyte antigens was generated. MAb #20 and #110 bound to most, if not all, peripheral T cells; a third antibody, #38, divided T cells into two subpopulations which were functionally distinct. Cells within the #38-negative subset produced easily detectable IL 2 and mediated delayed-type hypersensitivity to influenza virus. In contrast, isolated 38+ cells produced little IL 2 and required the addition of exogenous T cell growth factor for proliferation to Con A. Treatment of immune cells with mAb #38 and complement abrogated cytolysis to TNP-haptenated or influenza-infected targets. Thus, Syrian hamsters possess at least two T cell subpopulations of discrete functional ability and unique cell surface antigen expression. Although the data suggest that T cells analogous to those of the class I-restricted, Lyt 2+ subset are present in the hamster, it is predicted that the scope of their composite antigen receptor repertoire may be limited by the monomorphism of class I molecules in this species.
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Witte
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stein-Streilein
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Streilein
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D006224:Cricetinae; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000276:immunology*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008647:Mesocricetus; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010641:Phenotype; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D007376:Interleukin-2