EVIDENCE THAT T COLONY FORMATION IS A PROPERTY OF MU-(HELPER) LYMPHOCYTES-T

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 42  (1) , 152-155
Abstract
The T-colony-forming capacity of different T lymphocyte subsets was studied in normal [human] peripheral blood. Unfractionated lymphocytes (after lymphoprep separation) gave rise to a mean of 150 .+-. 27.7 SD T colonies per 1 .times. 105 cells; purified T lymphocytes by sheep RBC [red blood cell] rosetting formed 110 .+-. 32.2 colonies. Two subpopulations of T lymphocytes were further isolated according to the presence of Fc receptors for IgG (T.gamma.) or IgM (T.mu.) by ox RBC rosetting. T.gamma. cells had a very low or absent T colony-forming capacity (23 .+-. 26.2), T.mu. cells produced normal colony numbers (106 .+-. 28.4). Co-culture experiments showed that T.gamma. cells do not inhibit the T colony growth of normal T cells in this system. In human peripheral blood not all T lymphocytes apparently are capable of forming T colonies, this property is confined to the T.mu. (helper) lymphocyte subset.