Cytochemistry of human T-cell subpopulations.
Acid phosphatase and esterase cytochemistry performed on purified normal human T-cell populations showed that both methods produced distinctive localized dot patterns of reactivity in 60-70% of cells. By examination of rosette preparations formed with ox erythrocytes coated with IgM (EAM), with IgG (EAG), or anti-human kappa and lambda light chains, it was shown that this pattern of reactivity was largely restricted to small T lymphocytes possessing receptors for the Fc of IgM (T mu cells). In addition, both B lymphocytes and T cells with receptors for the Fc of IgG (T gamma cells) were larger lymphocytes with more abundant cytoplasm and usually displayed scattered granular acid phosphatase activity; in esterase preparations both cell types were either negative or possessed similar scattered granular positivity. As compared with T mu cells, T gamma cells were seen to form loose spontaneous rosettes with sheep erythrocytes. Combined esterase and acid phosphatase staining showed that both enzyme activities in the T mu cells are localized in the same area, and ultrastructural acid phosphatase cytochemistry established that this was in distinctive lysosomal structures. T mu staining by both esterase and acid phosphatase cytochemistry was greatly reduced after rosetting with EAG, but not after rosette formation with EAM or sheep erythrocytes.
Bevan
A
A
Department of Haematological Medicine, University of Cambridge, England.
Burns
G F
GF
Gray
L
L
Cawley
J C
JC
D000135:Acid Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004950:Esterases / Q000378:metabolism; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000201:enzymology*
D004950:Esterases; D000135:Acid Phosphatase