Subfractionation of human T lymphocyte subpopulations by partitioning: surface heterogeneity of the OKT8/Leu2+ T cell subset.
Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were subjected to countercurrent distribution in a charge-sensitive dextran-poly (ethylene glycol) aqueous two-phase system. Cells are thereby subfractionated on the basis of their charge-associated surface properties. The helper/inducer T cell subset (OKT4/Leu3+) has a single distribution curve with a low partition ratio (P). In contrast, the suppressor/cytotoxic (OKT8/Leu2+) subset is clearly heterogeneous and gives two peaks, one with a lower and the other with a higher P value. The cells in the latter peak constitute part of a minor subpopulation of cells enriched with natural killer (Leu7+) cells. Double labelling studies indicate that a majority of Leu2+ cells with a high P value also have a marker of natural killer cells (HNK-1), whereas the Leu2+ cells with low partition ratio are depleted with respect to cells bearing both markers.
D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000379:methods*; D003377:Countercurrent Distribution; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000145:classification; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000145:classification; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000145:classification; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000145:classification
D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface