UNUSUAL CELL-SURFACE PROPERTIES OF THE LYMPHOCYTE-T POPULATION EXPANDING IN MRL/MP-1PR/1PR MICE

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 47  (2) , 271-281
Abstract
MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr (lpr/lpr) mice but not the congeneric MRL/Mp-+/+ (+/+) mice develop a generalized lymph node (LN) hypertrophy reflecting the expansion of a T-cell population that acts as an enhancing factor for autoimmunity. To characterize better this T-cell population, some of its surface properties were compared with those of +/+ T-cells. Electrophoretic measurements revealed that lpr/lpr T cells possess a lower electronegative surface charge than +/+ T cells which indicates that the 2 cell types differ in the molecular composition of their plasmic membrane periphery. This notion was substantiated by the quantitation of T- and B-cell markers and of lectin-binding sites on these cells using single- and 2-color flow cytofluorimetry. lpr/lpr T cells exhibited lower levels of Thy-1 and Lyt-1 antigens than +/+ cells and were mostly devoid of Lyt-2 antigen. Although lpr/lpr LN cells displayed similar amounts of surface receptors for peanut agglutinin as +/+ LN cells, the expression of surface receptors for other lectins was either lower (Limulus polyphemus agglutinin, Maclura pomifera agglutinin, concanavalin A) or higher (Helix pomatia agglutinin, soybean agglutinin, Bandeiraea simplicifolia agglutinin I, phytohemagglutinin L) on lpr/lpr T cells than on +/+ T cells. The T cells accumulating in hypertrophied lpr/lpr LN are endowed with unique surface characteristics which may explain some of the functional abnormalities of these cells.

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