Expression of membrane receptor for tumour necrosis factor on human blood lymphocytes

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Summary: Using a monoclonal antibody against the human p75 tumour necrosis factor receptor (TNFR‐I) combined with a high‐sensitivity immunofluorescence flow cytometric procedure, a proportion of peripheral blood lymphocytes can be shown to express TNFR‐I constitutively. Approximately 50% of peripheral blood lymphocytes consisting mostly of CD4 cells and including most CD45R0‐positive cells, express TNFR‐I. Receptor expression is increased by a variety of activation signals. Only a minority (up to 30%) of tonsil B cells express measurable levels of TNFR‐I. The tonsil B cells which express TNFR‐I include both cells with a germinal centre cell phenotype and cells with the phenotype of the follicular mantle zone. Activation of B cells with antiimmunoglobulin, alone or in combination with interleukin‐4 or interleukin‐2, increases receptor expression, particularly in cells with the phenotype of mantle zone cells. The functional significance of constitutive expression of TNFR by blood and tissue lymphocytes is discussed.