Human lymphocyte subpopulations defined by double surface markers

Abstract

Subpopulations of human peripheral blood lymphocytes were studied with single and double surface marker assays. The markers employed were as follows: (1) Fc receptor, using EA, mean 21.4%; (2) C3 receptor, using Zy-C3, mean 14.6%; (3) Slg, using a fluoresceinated F(ab')2 anti-F(ab')2 mean 8.9%; and (4) T lymphocytes forming E-rosette, mean 69.3%. The proportions of lymphocytes with any given surface marker which also have another surface marker were as follows: (1) EA + Slg/EA = 0.14, (2) EA + Zy-C3/EA = 0.22, (3) Slg + Zy-C3/Slg = 0.83, (4) Zy-C3 + E-rosette/E-rosette = 0.02, (5) EA + E-rosette/E-rosette = 0.06, (6) Slg + E-rosette/E-rosette = 0. The relative percentages of cells which were Slg+EA-, EA+Slg-, and EA+Zy-C3- were confirmed by EA rosette depletion via gradient centrifugation. On the basis of these observations, calculations were made of the theoretical numbers of lymphocytes with triple markers (EA+Slg+Zy-C3+ = 3.0%) and lymphocytes with only a single surface marker (EA+ only = 12.5%, Zy-C3+ only = 1.5%, Slg+ only = 1.5%). Finally a schematic representation of the multiple subpopulations of lymphocytes with various surface markers is presented.