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Precursor and effector phenotypes of activated human T lymphocytes

Abstract

In mice, thymus-derived lymphocytes are differentiated into functional subclasses by their cell surface antigens. The Ly 1 determinants are present on T cells with a helper function, whereas Ly 2 and Ly 3 antigens are expressed on the surface of lymphocytes with suppressor or cytotoxic functions1–6. In man also, T-cell subsets have been identified using allo- and heteroimmune sera and, more recently, using monoclonal antibodies, which seem to identify helper and suppressor or cytotoxic subpopulations7–9. The major histocompatibility system (MHS)-encoded la antigens belong to several polymorphic families of membrane associated glycoproteins originally found on B lymphocytes10,11; however, they have also been shown to be markers for suppressor T cells in mice12,13. Recent studies have shown that in both mouse and man, T cells activated by a mixed lymphocyte reaction or by mitogens become la+14–18. Furthermore, some human T lymphoid cells, either freshly isolated from peripheral blood or after in vitro activation by lectins19–21 or alloantigens22–24, possess suppressor properties. We report here the phenotype of a T suppressor-cell sub-population which was induced in long-term culture of lymphoid cells after activation with phytohaemagglutinin (PHA). Our results suggest that a subset of T cells was progressively expanded over a period of 8 days in culture and that, with the expression on the surface of these cells of ‘la-like’ antigens, they acquired the capacity to suppress the proliferative response of syngeneic or allogeneic lymphocytes to alloantigens or mitogens.

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Fainboim, L., Navarrete, C. & Festenstein, H. Precursor and effector phenotypes of activated human T lymphocytes. Nature 288, 391–393 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1038/288391a0

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