SELECTIVE DISTRIBUTION AND QUANTITATION OF -T LYMPHOCYTE SUBSETS IN GERMINAL-CENTERS OF HUMAN TONSILS - DEFINITION BY USE OF MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODIES

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  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 107  (5) , 228-231
Abstract
The distribution and quantitation of T-lymphocyte subpopulations of human tonsils were studied in situ by the avidin-biotin-peroxidase technique, using monoclonal antibodies to total, helper and suppressor T cells. Primary follicles contained few T lymphocytes. The germinal centers of secondary follicles contained numerous T cells: in the periphery, 14.2 .+-. 1.7% (mean .+-. SD), and in the central area, 2.4 .+-. 0.7%, of follicular lymphocytes counted were T lymphocytes. The mantle zone had fewer T lymphocytes (7 .+-. 0.9%). Most of the T lymphocytes found in the germinal centers had the helper-cell phenotype. There were < 1% of suppressor T lymphocytes in the germinal centers. An occasional secondary follicle could contain up to 10% of suppressor cells (range, 0-9.7%). The interfollicular areas contained preponderantly T lymophocytes, a majority of which reacted with monoclonal antibodies to helper cells. The distribution and enumeration of T lymphocytes in normal reactive lymphoid tissue provide a basis for studies of pathological specimens.