Differential expression of cell surface antigens on subsets of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells.
BACKGROUND
The assessment of relative antigen density on T cell subsets is a feature of antigen expression that is infrequently characterized. Defining phenotypic differences is a first step in understanding associated differences in function. Additionally, a better understanding of T cell heterogeneity may aid in clinical diagnoses.


METHODS
To further elucidate phenotypic differences of T cell subsets, and begin to determine what information relative antigen density contributes to immunology, we analyzed normal human peripheral blood T cells for a variety of immunophenotypic (CD2, CD3, CD4, CD5, CD7, CD8, CD45RA, CD45RO, TCR alpha beta) and light scatter characteristics using 6 color flow cytometry. T-cell leukemia specimens were also analyzed.


RESULTS
Our data show that statistically significant immunophenotypic differences exist between subsets of human CD4 and CD8 T cells. Normal T cells express different levels of relative antigen density for some antigens compared to malignant T cells.


CONCLUSIONS
Significant differences are seen in relative antigen density for several cell surface markers between CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Neither donor source nor flow cytometric calibration account for these differences. The data are applied to specimens from patients with T-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia to show how antigen density can be used clinically in aiding to diagnose disease. The data presented here can be used to further investigate these cell populations for functional differences.
Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02129, USA.
Douglas P
DP
Olson
David M
DM
Dombkowski
Abigail S
AS
Kelliher
Charlotte
C
Pontillo
David C
DC
Anderson
Frederic I
FI
Preffer
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007223:Infant; D015458:Leukemia, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets
D015703:Antigens, CD; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell