Human helper-T-cell function does not require T4 antigen expression.
The relationship between immunoregulatory T-cell function and the expression of T-cell subset-specific differentiation antigens was examined using a phenotypically anomalous human T-cell line (TCL), termed H-1. H-1 cells were found to express T11, extremely high levels of T3, but no T4 nor T8 antigen. Despite their lack of T4 antigen expression, H-1 cells could be activated by coculture with pokeweed mitogen (PWM), anti-T3 antibody, or autologous B cells to provide potent help for B-cell differentiation into plaque-forming cells (PFC). In contrast, H-1 cells did not suppress the PFC response triggered by PWM-activated T4+ cells. These results demonstrate that the expression of the T-cell subclass-specific differentiation antigen, T4, is not required for a T cell to become activated and to implement the program for helper function. In addition, enhanced expression of T3 on the T4-, T8-, H-1 cell surface may reflect a compensatory upregulation of the T3/Ti receptor complex on T cells which are deficient in these nonpolymorphic associative recognition structures.
D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002460:Cell Line; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008211:Lymphocyte Cooperation; D010641:Phenotype; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*
D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens