The relation between T-cell expression of LFA-1 and immunological memory

Abstract

Antibodies against isotypes of the leucocyte common antigen (LCA, CD45) can be used to identify largely reciprocal subsets of human peripheral T cells, characterized by differential ability to respond to recall antigen in vitro. The transition from naive, unprimed T cells to memory cells capable of responding to recall stimulating has been associated with a switch in surface expression of CD45 from the CD45RA isotype to CD45RO. It has been proposed that this transition is accompanied by the coordinated up-regulation of a number of cell-surface molecules involved in cellular adhesion and/or activation, including the leucocyte function-associated antigens (LFA). In the present study we have examined the expression of LFA-1 on subsets of human peripheral T cells, and related it to the expression of markers of cellular activation and CD45 isotypes, and thus to immunological memory. Our results suggest that the intensity of LFA-1 expression on the surface membrane of human peripheral T cells is not tightly associated with maturation status as judged by LCA isotype expression, but rather reflects the degree of cellular activation. This conclusion is supported by data of T-cell function in vitro, showing similar antigen- and mitogen-induced proliferative responses in T-cell subsets characterized by low as well as high surface expression of LFA-1.