Phenotypic Heterogeneity within the Circulating Human Neonatal T4-Positive T Cell Subset

Abstract
An indirect immunofluorescence staining technique was employed to evaluate the TQ1 and 5/9 monoclonal antibody lymphocyte reactivity in 10 cord blood mononuclear cell (MC) preparations enriched of E-rosette-forming cells (E+). Ten adult E+ MC populations were used as controls. Unfractionated T4+ cord and adult MC positively selected by panning procedure were also assayed. The results of these experiments, taken together, suggest that there is an overexpanded neonatal T cell subset which displays a previously unrecognized immunophenotype (T4+, TQ1+, 5/9+). Whether these lymphocytes are involved in the well-known fetal-maternal immunosuppressive mechanisms of whether they are a further example of neonatal phenotypic immaturity remains to be elucidated.

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