A subset of OKT4+ peripheral T cells can generate colonies containing mixed progeny with OKT4+ helper and OKT8+ suppressor cells.
The membrane phenotype of human T cell colony progenitors and that of their clonal progeny was studied for expression of the T4 and T8 determinants. Using clonal culture conditions, the colonies were grown in semi-solid agar medium from peripheral blood cells. Clonality was assessed using the glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase isoenzyme marker. Combination of this marker with the culture of sorted cell fractions allowed us to ascribe the colony progenitors to a subset of OKT4+ lymphocytes. The progeny consisted of the mixture of single OKT4+, single OKT8+ and double OKT4+8+ cells, as determined by double staining. Double staining was performed on mass-harvested colony cells and on individual colonies expanded in liquid culture with fresh interleukin 2. Expression of the OKT8 positivity on colony cells deriving from OKT4+ progenitors required an interaction with radioresistant OKT8+ cells that were co-cultured with these progenitors. Furthermore, the functional capacities of the cell progeny were assayed on the pokeweed mitogen-driven immunoglobulin production by B cells. It was found that OKT4+ colony cells were helper whereas OKT8+ colony cells were suppressor cells. It is concluded that a subset of OKT4+ peripheral blood T lymphocytes can generate colonies containing both helper OKT4+ cells and suppressor OKT8+ cells.
Farcet
J P
JP
Gourdin
M F
MF
Calvo
C
C
Oudrhiri
N
N
Divine
M
M
Bouguet
J
J
Fradelizzi
D
D
Senik
A
A
Reyes
F
F
D000917:Antibody Formation; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D001681:Biological Assay; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002469:Cell Separation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002999:Clone Cells / Q000166:cytology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology
D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface