title: Human T cell clones express functional homing receptors required for normal lymphocyte trafficking.
abstract: To function efficiently in vivo, lymphocytes must circulate from the blood into lymphoid tissues and other sites of immune reaction. Herein, we show that human cytotoxic and helper T cell clones and lines, maintained in vitro with IL-2, express the functional capacity to recognize and bind to high endothelial venules (HEV), a capacity essential for lymphocyte exit from the blood, and hence for normal lymphocyte trafficking. The expression of functional homing receptors distinguishes human T cell clones from their murine counterparts, which uniformly lack receptors for HEV and are unable to migrate normally from the blood in vivo. The results raise the possibility that human T cell clones may be more effective in mediating in vivo immune responses than is suggested by murine models.
mesh_terms: D001065:Appendix / Q000098:blood supply; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002465:Cell Movement; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004727:Endothelium / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000098:blood supply; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000502:physiology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D014680:Veins / Q000166:cytology*; D014699:Venules / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell