CHARACTERIZATION OF PERIPHERAL BLOOD CD8/11 CELLS IN BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS

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Abstract
Flow cytometric analysis of mononuclear cell surface antigens identified 2 distinct populations of CD8/11 cells in the peripheral blood of recovering bone marrow transplant (BMT) recipients. These populations were distinguished based on differential CD8 antigen expression. One population expressed high-surface density CD8 (CD8bright/11); the other population expressed low-surface density CD8 (CD8dim/11). The surface expression of CD11, the C3bi receptor on lymphocytes, is similar in CD8bright/11 and CD8dim cells. Thus, although 13 BMT recipients had elevated CD8/11 cells (.hivin.x=27%.+-.9%; normal range .hivin.x=7.4.+-.3.3%), the percent of CD8bright/11 cells versus CD8dim/11 cells varied. The majority of cells in patients with a predominant CD8bright/11 phenotype did not express CD16 (Fc.gamma., receptor). In contrast, the CD8dim/11 cells coexpressed CD16. When functional studies were performed, we observed high numbers of CD8bright/11 cells correlated with low natural killer (NK) lytic activity, while patients with <25% CD8bright/11 cells had high NK activity. Analysis of interleukin 2 (IL-2) production revealed that none of the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from BMT patients synthesized IL-2 at <1.5 months posttransplant. However, cells from some patients began to synthesize IL-2 at approximately 2 months posttransplant. It is likely that both populations of CD8/11 cells have an impact on the regeneration and regulation of the immune system in BMT recipients.

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