title: Leu 7+ (HNK-1+) cells. II. Characterization of blood Leu 7+ cells with respect to immunophenotype and cell density.
abstract: In the present study, combined methods (indirect immunofluorescence with monoclonal antibodies, Percoll density fractionation, FACS analysis, and the cytotoxicity test) were used for further characterization of peripheral blood Leu 7+ cells (human NK and K cells). The Leu 7+ cell content was found to be relatively higher in the low-density cell fraction in which cells of large granular lymphocyte morphology predominated. However, Leu 7+ cells were also present in intermediate and high-density fractions. Low-density Leu 7+ cells were characterized by both Leu 2 (T suppressor/cytotoxic) and OKM1 (myelomonocytic) markers, whereas among high-density Leu 7+ cells the Leu 2 phenotype strictly predominated. Depletion of OKT3+ cells from the non-adherent cell population caused a decrease of cells with T helper and T suppressor phenotypes but did not have this effect on Leu 7+ and OKM1+ cells. After depletion of Leu 7+ cells from the OKT3- population the content of both T suppressor and OKM1+ cells decreased. Both the present results and previous reports enable us to conclude that two main Leu 7+ cell subpopulations are present in blood, namely Leu 7+Leu 2+/Leu 4+ and Leu 7+/OKM1+ cells. The presence of small and large Leu 7+ cells was also shown by FACS analysis.
mesh_terms: D002469:Cell Separation; D003720:Densitometry; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification*; D010641:Phenotype; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology