Localization and characterization of T-cell subpopulations and natural killer cells (HNK 1+ cells) in the human tonsilla palatina. An ultrastructural-immunocytochemical study.
In the present study attention was focussed on several lymphoid subpopulations and specific stationary cells of the human tonsilla palatina. They were labeled at the light- and electron-microscopic levels by means of monoclonal antibodies to cell surface antigens. Cells resembling interdigitating cells (IDC-like cells) within the crypt epithelium and the interdigitating cells in the parafollicular T-cell region express the HLA-DR antigen. This fact suggests a relationship between these two populations of cells. Both cell types were frequently found in close contact to T-helper cells labeled with Anti-Leu 3a. This fact is discussed as a confirmation of earlier suggestions that the tonsillar crypt epithelium serves as T-cell region. Cytotoxic/suppressor-T cells (OKT8+) and Leu 7-positive cells do not appear to contact interdigitating cells. Anti-Leu 7 is a monoclonal antibody, that defines a differentiation antigen shown to be selectively expressed on human natural killer cells (NK-cells). With the use of the immuno-electron-microscopic labeling method it was possible to analyze the ultrastructure of this lymphoid subpopulation. Two morphologically distinguishable subtypes of Leu 7-positive cells populate different microenvironments: The Leu 7-positive large-granular lymphocyte was predominantly found in the crypt epithelium, while numerous Leu 7-positive cells located in the germinal centers had the appearance of small lymphocytes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
D000293:Adolescent; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000166:cytology*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000166:cytology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II