Expression of the Acid α‐Naphthyl Acetate Esterase Marker by Activated and Secondary T Lymphocytes in Man

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Abstract
Acid α‐naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE) activity is charecteristic of resting human T lymphocytes. The expression of the ANAE marker by activated human T and B lymphocytes (blasts) and by corresponding ‘secondary’ lymphocytes has been investigated. Human blood lymphocytes were stimulated by selective T‐cell (phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and concanavalin A (Con A)) or B‐cell (Staphylococcus aureus strain Cowan 1) mitogens or in the mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC), and the percentage of blasts expressing the marker in quantitated. Whereas 95% of Con‐A‐activated blasts expressed the marker, approximately 25%‐30% of MLC‐activated blasts and only 10%‐25% of PHA‐activated blasts were ANAE‐positive. After reversion to secondary lymphocytes, the PHA‐ and MLC‐activated cells regained the ANAE activity, and more than 90% of the blast‐derived secondary T lymphocytes were ANAE‐positive. Only 2%‐8% of the blast cells activated by Staphylococcus aureus strain Cowan 1 were ANAE‐positive. We therefore conclude that ANAE is not a reliable marker fur T cells when activated cells (blasts) are considered.