The S-100 beta protein in normal human peripheral blood is uniquely present within a discrete suppressor-T-cell compartment.
The S-100-positive T lymphocytes, and, particularly, the S-100 beta subunit, are restricted, as demonstrated by quantitative subset analysis and double-labeling (gold-peroxidase) immunoelectron microscopy of T-cell subpopulations, to an unique T8-positive cell subset which interestingly was 9.3-negative and CD11b-positive. Since both the T8-positive, 9.3-negative and the T8-positive, CD11b-positive subpopulations have been demonstrated to show suppressive activities, the S-100-positive T cells seem to be closely restricted to a small T-suppressor-cell compartment. Although functional studies on viable isolated S-100 beta-positive cells are impossible to achieve, due to the lack of this protein on the cell membrane, its presence in a discrete T-suppressor compartment might suggest a possible role for the S-100 beta-positive T cells in the regulation of the immune system.
De Panfilis
G
G
Department of Dermatology, University of Parma, Italy.
Rowden
G
G
Manara
G C
GC
Ferrari
C
C
Torresani
C
C
Sansoni
P
P
D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010641:Phenotype; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000032:analysis / Q000145:classification* / Q000648:ultrastructure
D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D009418:S100 Proteins