A false expression of CD8 antigens on CD4+ T cells in a routine flow cytometry analysis

The two-colour flow cytometry method applied in a routine enumeration of peripheral blood T lymphocyte subsets reveals that in some patients the entire population of CD4+ lymphocytes seems to express CD8 determinants as well. However, expression of the CD8 antigens on the cell surface is much lower in comparison with typical CD8+ cells. Moreover, in one-colour staining with an anti-CD8 antibody, cells with weak CD8 expression are not observed and only one typical population of CD8+ lymphocytes is seen. Investigating this phenomenon, we showed that after washing patient cells in RPMI before CD4/CD8 staining, the CD4+ T cell population did not show CD8 "co-expression". These results suggest that CD4+ lymphocytes, which seem to co-express CD8 antigen, in fact do not have this antigen on their surface. Moreover, after the addition of patient plasma to healthy donor cells prior to CD4/CD8 staining, a weak CD8 expression on normal CD4+ cells was noticed. Therefore we can assume that the agent(s) causing this phenomenon is/are present in the plasma of some patients. Altogether, these observations suggest that this phenomenon is nonspecific and probably results from cross-linking of anti-CD8 mAbs with anti-CD4 mAbs caused by factor(s) present in plasma of some patient. However, identification of that/these factor(s) requires further research.     

CD59、CD55在T细胞活化信号转导中的协同作用

目的:研究糖基磷脂酰肌醇(GPI)锚固蛋白CD59、CD55在脂筏介导T细胞信号转导通路中的协同效应。方法:应用siRNA技术,构建特异性针对CD55与CD59基因的重组载体pSUPER-siCD55,pSUPER-siCD59。实验分为未转染的Jurkat细胞组(Ⅰ组)、转染pSUPER空质粒的Jurkat细胞组(Ⅱ组)、转染pSUPER-siCD59重组质粒的Jurkat细胞组(Ⅲ组)及转染pSUPER-siCD55重组质粒的Jurkat细胞组(Ⅳ组)。RT-PCR检测转染细胞中CD55和CD59基因的表达噻唑蓝(MTT)比色法和激光共聚焦扫描显微镜分别检测CD55与CD59联合作用对4组Jurkat细胞的增殖效应以及细胞内钙离子的变化、结果:稳定转染后,Ⅲ组细胞CD59分子的表达和Ⅳ组细胞CD55分子的表达被成功抑制。Ⅰ组和Ⅱ组细胞CD55与CD59联合作用后增殖能力和钙离子浓度均明显高于Ⅲ组、Ⅳ组(P<0.05),Ⅰ组和Ⅱ组之间无差异结论:CD59和CD55在T细胞活化信号转导通路中存在协同效应。     

活化／抑制CD59对T淋巴细胞增殖的影响

目的：研究活化／抑制cD59分子对T细胞增殖的影响。方法：Jurkat细胞分别电转入pSUPER-siCD59质粒及用CD59活化抗体刺激。激光共聚焦显微镜下观察细胞的电转情况及cD59分子在细胞膜上的分布及表达;MTT比色法检测细胞的增殖。Westernblot检测CD59分子表达及T细胞活化相关蛋白ZAP70磷酸化水平。结果：激光共聚焦显微镜下可见电转染细胞表达绿色荧光,转染效率约为40％。转染pSUPER-siCD59质粒后CD59荧光强度强度降低,CD59分子均匀分布于细胞膜与正常Jurkat细胞分布一致。抗体活化后CD59在细胞膜成簇状分布。抗体活后细胞增殖速率和磷酸化ZAP70的蛋白表达水平均高于正常组（P〈0．05）,而细胞电转质粒后则恰恰相反。结论：CD59通过与信号转导分子的相互作用促进T细胞活化增殖。     

CD59、CD55在T细胞活化信号转导中的协同作用

目的：研究糖基磷脂酰肌醇（GeD）锚固蛋白CD59、CD55在脂筏介导T细胞信号转导通路中的协同效应。方法：应用siRNA技术,构建特异性针对CD55与CD59基因的重组载体pSUPER—siCD55,pSUPER—siCD59。实验分为未转染的Jurkat细胞组（I组）、转染pSUPER空质粒的Jurkat细胞组（Ⅱ组）、转染pSUPER—siCD59重组质粒的Jurkat细胞组（Ⅲ组）及转染pSUPER—siCD55重组质粒的Jurkat细胞组（Ⅳ组）。RT—PCR检测转染细胞中CD55和CD59基因的表达。噻唑蓝（MTT）比色法和激光共聚焦扫描显微镜分别检测CD55与CD59联合作用对4组Jurkat细胞的增殖效应以及细胞内钙离子的变化。结果：稳定转染后,Ⅲ组细胞CD59分子的表达和Ⅳ组细胞CD55分子的表达被成功抑制。Ⅰ组和Ⅱ组细胞CD55与CD59联合作用后增殖能力和钙离子浓度均明显高于Ⅲ组、Ⅳ组（P〈0．05）,Ⅰ组和Ⅱ组之间无差异。结论：CD59和CD55在T细胞活化信号转导通路中存在协同效应。     

活化/抑制CD59 对T 淋巴细胞增殖的影响

目的：研究活化/抑制CD59 分子对T 细胞增殖的影响。方法：Jurkat细胞分别电转入pSUPER-siCD59 质粒及用CD59 活化 抗体刺激。激光共聚焦显微镜下观察细胞的电转情况及CD59 分子在细胞膜上的分布及表达;MTT 比色法检测细胞的增殖。 Western blot检测CD59 分子表达及T细胞活化相关蛋白ZAP70磷酸化水平。结果：激光共聚焦显微镜下可见电转染细胞表达绿 色荧光,转染效率约为40%。转染pSUPER-siCD59 质粒后CD59荧光强度强度降低,CD59 分子均匀分布于细胞膜与正常Jurkat 细胞分布一致。抗体活化后CD59 在细胞膜成簇状分布。抗体活后细胞增殖速率和磷酸化ZAP70 的蛋白表达水平均高于正常组 （P<0.05）,而细胞电转质粒后则恰恰相反。结论：CD59 通过与信号转导分子的相互作用促进T 细胞活化增殖。     

Expression of CD55 and CD59 on peripheral blood cells from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients

CD55 and CD59 are glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored proteins with complement inhibitory properties. CD55 inhibits the formation of C3 convertases, and CD59 prevents the terminal polymerisation of the membrane attack complex. It has been reported that SLE patients seems to have an acquired deficiency of these proteins associated with secondary autoimmune haemolytic anaemia and lymphopenia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of altered CD55 and CD59 expression on peripheral blood cells from SLE patients. Flow cytometric analyses were performed on red and white blood cells from 23 SLE patients and 23 healthy controls. We observed more CD55- and CD59-lymphocytes (p = 0.005 and p = 0.019, respectively), and CD59-granulocytes (p = 0.045) in SLE patients than in controls. These results suggest there is an altered pattern of CD55 and CD59 expression on the peripheral blood cells of SLE patients, and it may play a role in the cytopenias in these patients.     

Expression of tumour necrosis factor receptors (CD120a and CD120b) on bronchoalveolar cells.

It is generally accepted that physiological modulators for tumour necrosis factor (TNF) are present in a variety of body fluids including serum. Among these modulators are soluble TNF receptors (TNF-R) that are cleaved from the extracellular domain of the TNF-Rs. Two receptors of different structures with molecular weights of 55 kDa (CD120a) and 75 kDa (CD120b) are known to be expressed on monocytes, lymphocytes, granulocytes and other cells of peripheral blood. The aim of our study was to determine the expression of CD120a and CD120b on bronchoalveolar lavage cells (BAL cells). BAL cells of 14 patients with different pulmonary disorders were stained with anti-CD120a and anti-CD120b monoclonal antibodies and were differentiated by FACS analysis. Both TNF-Rs are expressed on monocytes, macrophages, lymphocytes and granulocytes of the BAL. Although the relation of CD120a to CD120b is individual for a given cell type and an individual patient, strict correlations between both receptors were observed for BAL monocytes and alveolar macrophages. CD120a are expressed on 29.7% of alveolar macrophages; similar data were obtained for CD120b. 24.3% of the BAL monocytes were positive for CD120a and 25.5% for CD120b. 4.1% of the BAL lymphocytes were positive for CD120a whereas the percentage of CD120b positive BAL lymphocytes was approximately six times greater. Analysis of BAL granulocytes revealed 21.2% cells positive for CD120a and 11.6% for CD120b. In contrast to the BAL cells named above there was no positive correlation between CD120a and CD120b expression on BAL lymphocytes and granulocytes. We were able to show that TNF-Rs of BAL cells, like those of blood cells, are shedded in vitro after incubation with or without lipopolysaccharide (LPS), detected as TNFalpha-inhibitor activity in cell culture supernatant. In conclusion, BAL cells express and shed TNF-Rs, as is known for cells of other body compartments.     

Flow cytometric analysis of CD55 and CD59 expression on blood cells in paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria

PNH is a rare clonal disorder of hematopoietic stem cells, therefore all blood cells lineages are involved. The main feature is an increased sensitivity of erythrocytes to complement-mediated cell lysis due to deficiency of membrane-bound GPI (glycosylphosphatidylinositol)-anchored proteins which normally function as inhibitors of reactive hemolysis. In the present study, we performed flow cytometric analysis using monoclonal antibodies against CD55 and CD59 for the detection of PNH-type clone in the blood of 50 patients (28 females and 22 males, age range 7-67 yrs). In one patient only we found a large population (95%) of granulocytes with decreased expression of both CD55 and CD59 molecules (type I PNH) and in two others with partial loss of CD55 expression (type II PNH). The expression was determined chiefly on granulocytes which in the control group showed reliable and high expression of CD55 and CD59.     

Association of the CD59 and CD55 cell surface glycoproteins with other membrane molecules.

mAb against human glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol-linked leucocyte surface Ag CD59 and CD55 immunoprecipitated from detergent lysates of HPB ALL cell line in addition to the respective Ag a common 80-kDa glycoprotein component and (glyco)lipids. The 80-kDa glycoprotein is different from otherwise similar CD44 Ag. The CD59 immunoprecipitate contained also a small amount of the CD55 glycoprotein and the CD55 immunoprecipitate minute amount of the CD59 Ag. These results are interpreted in terms of existence of noncovalent complexes resistant to dissociation by mild detergents and consisting of the 80-kDa glycoprotein, CD59 and CD55 glycoproteins, relatively tightly bound (glyco)lipids and possibly other so far unidentified components. These complexes contain probably also other glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol-linked Ag, as an anti-CD48 mAb immunoprecipitated also an apparently very similar complex. The complexes immunoprecipitated by mAb against the CD55, CD59, and CD48 Ag also contain a protein kinase activity. This type of complexes could not be demonstrated in several other cell types such as RBC, PBMC, and HeLa cells. However, a qualitatively very similar set of components was immunoprecipitated from the murine thymoma EL-4 cell line by an anti-Thy-1 mAb.     

Flow cytometric analysis of glycosylphosphatidyl-inositol-anchored proteins to assess paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria clone size

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is characterized by total or partial deficiency of membrane proteins anchored to the cell surface through a glycosylphosphatidyl-inositol (GPI) moiety. The relationship between the size of the PNH clone, determined by the expression of GPI-anchored proteins (AP; CD14, CD48, CD55, CD59, and CD66b) on erythrocytes, lymphocytes, monocytes, and granulocytes using forward and side scatter analysis, and severity of the disease was evaluated in 19 PNH patients. CD55 antigen expression did not delineate abnormal erythrocytes as well as did anti-CD59.The proportion of monocytes deficient in CD55, CD59, CD48, and CD14 (48-97%) and of granulocytes deficient in CD55, CD59, and CD66b (60-99%) was greater than the proportion of erythrocytes deficient in CD59 (24-95%) and the proportion of lymphocytes deficient in CD55 and CD59 (30-98%). There were no significant correlations among reticulocyte, leukocyte, and platelet counts and GPI-AP-deficient immunophenotypes in red and white blood cells. However, high coefficients of determination were seen between hemoglobin levels and granulocytes deficient in CD59 (r(2) = 0.76), CD55 (r(2) = 0.74), and CD66b (r(2) = 0.74) antigens and between hemoglobin and monocytes deficient in CD55 (r(2) = 0.73), CD59 (r(2) = 0.80), and CD14 (r(2) = 0.75) antigens. These results are interpreted as indicating that the size of PNH clone is better assessed by immunophenotypic analysis of monocytes and granulocytes rather than of lymphocytes and erythrocytes.     

Snapper (Pagrus auratus) leucocyte proliferation is synergistically enhanced by simultaneous stimulation with LPS and PHA

Important channels of communication between mammalian leucocytes have long been recognised. Here, data are reported that suggest similar integrations may occur between snapper leucocytes upon mitogen stimulation. Cell surface immunoglobulin (IgM) expression was used in conjunction with intracellular fluorescence staining and flow cytometry to differentiate proliferating peripheral blood leucocyte subsets (PBLs). Independent activation using phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) drove both mIg(-)and mIg(+)cells into cycle. It is not known if the proliferation of mIg(+)cells was mediated by a mutually exclusive effect of the mitogen on each cell population, cognate cellular interaction or a soluble growth factor. Simultaneous activation of PBLs with PHA and LPS consistently induced significantly more cells to proliferate than the sum of proliferating cells stimulated solely with PHA or LPS. Together, the results suggest that different leucocyte subsets have the capability to influence their respective responses to mitogenic stimulation. Therefore, like in the mammalian immune system, communication may occur between snapper leucocyte subsets.     

Identification of the anti-CD3-unresponsive subpopulation of CD4+, CD45RA+ peripheral T lymphocytes.

The majority of peripheral CD4+ T lymphocytes proliferate in vitro in response to anti-CD3 in presence of autologous APC. The present study describes a subpopulation of CD4+ T cells that cannot be activated and progress into cell cycle by stimulation with anti-CD3 plus APC or with mitogenic combinations of anti-CD2. The in vitro responses of these anti-CD3-unresponsive CD4+ T cells were investigated with a panel of mAb to CD2, CD3, and CD28, and found to be similar to those previously observed for mature thymocytes: only the combination of anti-CD2 plus anti-CD28 produced cell proliferation. Anti-CD3-unresponsive T cells were CD45RA+, but represented only 14 to 22% of the CD4+, CD45RA+ T cell population. Activation with anti-CD2 plus anti-CD28 mAb resulted in major changes in the cell surface phenotype and functional properties: a loss of CD45RA+ occurred and an increased expression of CD45RO, CD29, and CD58 (LFA3), as well as a gain in responsiveness to anti-CD3 and anti-CD2. This change in CD45 phenotype from CD45RA to CD45RO occurs in both the anti-CD3-responsive and in the anti-CD3-unresponsive subsets of the CD45RA+, CD4+ cells after cell proliferation. The anti-CD3-unresponsive subset may represent a pool of not yet fully differentiated peripheral T cells. The acquisition of anti-CD3 responsiveness could occur as a consequence of Ag priming or by an Ag-independent mechanism. Involvement of the CD28 Ag in this process is suggested from the present study.     

Orientia tsutsugamushi in human scrub typhus eschars shows tropism for dendritic cells and monocytes rather than endothelium

Scrub typhus is a common and underdiagnosed cause of febrile illness in Southeast Asia, caused by infection with Orientia tsutsugamushi. Inoculation of the organism at a cutaneous mite bite site commonly results in formation of a localized pathological skin reaction termed an eschar. The site of development of the obligate intracellular bacteria within the eschar and the mechanisms of dissemination to cause systemic infection are unclear. Previous postmortem and in vitro reports demonstrated infection of endothelial cells, but recent pathophysiological investigations of typhus patients using surrogate markers of endothelial cell and leucocyte activation indicated a more prevalent host leucocyte than endothelial cell response in vivo. We therefore examined eschar skin biopsies from patients with scrub typhus to determine and characterize the phenotypes of host cells in vivo with intracellular infection by O. tsutsugamushi, using histology, immunohistochemistry, double immunofluorescence confocal laser scanning microscopy and electron microscopy. Immunophenotyping of host leucocytes infected with O. tsutsugamushi showed a tropism for host monocytes and dendritic cells, which were spatially related to different histological zones of the eschar. Infected leucocyte subsets were characterized by expression of HLADR+, with an "inflammatory" monocyte phenotype of CD14/LSP-1/CD68 positive or dendritic cell phenotype of CD1a/DCSIGN/S100/FXIIIa and CD163 positive staining, or occasional CD3 positive T-cells. Endothelial cell infection was rare, and histology did not indicate a widespread inflammatory vasculitis as the cause of the eschar. Infection of dendritic cells and activated inflammatory monocytes offers a potential route for dissemination of O. tsutsugamushi from the initial eschar site. This newly described cellular tropism for O. tsutsugamushi may influence its interaction with local host immune responses.     

Distribution of ecto-5'-nucleotidase on subsets of human T and B lymphocytes as detected by indirect immunofluorescence using goat antibodies

Human T and B lymphocyte subsets were characterized for ecto-5'-nucleotidase (ecto-5'-NT) expression by two-color immunofluorescence by using polyclonal goat antibodies to 5'-NT and murine monoclonal antibodies to T and B cell subsets. Anti-5'-NT antibodies were prepared by immunizing a goat with purified human placental 5'-NT. Lymphocyte surface 5'-NT was detected with F(ab')2 fragments of immune goat IgG followed by biotinylated F(ab')2 rabbit anti-goat IgG and fluorescein isothiocyanate-avidin. Lymphocyte cell surface antigens were detected with phycoerythrin (PE)-conjugated anti-CD3, anti-CD4, anti-CD8, anti-CD16, and anti-CD19. HB-4, an antigen present on a major subset of human peripheral blood B cells, was detected with murine monoclonal anti-HB-4 and PE-anti-mouse-kappa. Analysis showed that ecto-5'-NT was expressed on 32 +/- 7% of CD3+, 19 +/- 6% of CD4+, and 50 +/- 21% of CD8+ T cells, but not on CD16+ lymphocytes. Ecto-5'-NT was also expressed on 81 +/- 8% of adult peripheral blood B cells as defined by PE-anti-CD19; HB-4 was expressed on 84 +/- 7% of CD19+ cells. The two populations of B cells were not identical, however, because HB-4 was co-expressed on only 79 +/- 18% of ecto-5'-NT+ B cells. Two-color immunofluorescent staining of T cells from a patient with congenital agammaglobulinemia and low T cell ecto-5'-NT activity revealed reduced percentages of ecto-5'-NT+ cells in his CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ populations. Thus, reduced ecto-5'-NT activity by enzyme assay was paralleled by reduced numbers of 5'-NT molecules on the cell surface. Two-color immunofluorescent staining of B cells from a patient with hypogammaglobulinemia and low B cell ecto-5'-NT activity also revealed markedly reduced expression of 5'-NT. HB-4 expression was normal, however, suggesting that the patient's B cells were blocked in maturation subsequent to the acquisition of HB-4 but prior to that of ecto-5'-NT. These results demonstrate that anti-5'-NT antibodies will be valuable tools for analyzing ecto-5'-NT expression and lymphocyte maturation in patients with immuno-deficiency diseases.     

Differential in vitro activation of CD8-CD4+ and CD4-CD8+ T lymphocytes by combinations of anti-CD2 and anti-CD3 antibodies

Purified peripheral blood T lymphocytes and the CD8-CD4+ and CD4-CD8+ T cell subsets, exhaustively depleted of APC have been studied for their capacity to respond to mAb directed against the CD3-Ti Ag-specific TCR complex and against the CD2 SRBCR. It is demonstrated that high affinity IL-2R can be readily induced by either anti-CD3 and/or anti-CD2 stimulation. However, IL-2 production can be observed only in the CD4+CD8- T cell subset. These results clearly contrast data obtained with purified CD4-CD8+ T cells, which are able to proliferate when the CD3-Ti complex is activated in the presence of APC. The data presented in the present study demonstrate that a simplified model for T cell activation and clonal expansion of the two major T cell subsets involve only the CD3-Ti complex and the CD2 Ag. Under conditions where the activation signals for the T cells are restricted only to the activation of CD3-Ti and CD2, the CD4+CD8- T cells respond with IL-2 production and expression of high affinity IL-2R, whereas the CD4-CD8+ T cell subset depends on exogenous IL-2 provided by the CD4+CD8- cells. These data do not, however, exclude an involvement of other cell-surface signals for regulation and control of T cell activation and T cell effector functions.     

Identification and characterization of a hamster monoclonal antibody anti-2.28 directed against a 70-kilodalton activation antigen on human monocytes

Hamster mAb against activated human monocytes were examined for their reactivities against monocyte activation Ag. One mAb, anti-2.28, stained only monocytes activated with LPS plus IFN-gamma, but not unactivated peripheral blood monocytes, polymorphonuclear leukocytes, lymphocytes, RBC, and platelets. However, it stained peripheral blood T cells activated with PMA plus anti-CD3 and peripheral blood and tonsillar B cells activated with PMA plus anti-mu. Of the 35 cell lines of diverse origin examined for immunofluorescence staining by anti-2.28, only EBV-transformed cell lines showed strong staining by this mAb. One pre-B cell line, Nalm-12, could be induced by PMA to exhibit intermediate staining. Immunoprecipitation studies identified the 2.28 Ag as a 70- to 85-kDa monomer. Immunofluorescence staining, immunoprecipitation, and peptide mapping studies indicated that 2.28 was different from a number of monocyte and lymphocyte surface Ag including Mo3e, B-4 (CD19), B-5, CD39, and the G28-8 Ag Bgp 95. These studies suggest that 2.28 may be a novel hemopoietic non-lineage-specific activation Ag.     

Influence of calcium ions in the flow cytometric analysis of human CD8-positive cells.

BACKGROUND: The CD8 co-receptor is an important marker used to identify various lymphocyte subsets. A significant decrease in CD8alpha staining intensity was observed in the presence of divalent cation chelators. METHODS: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) obtained from healthy volunteers were treated with calcium chelators, stained with different anti-human CD8 mAbs, and analyzed by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Calcium chelators caused a dose-dependent decrease in fluorescence intensity, using specific anti-human CD8alpha mAbs. This phenomenon was not due to CD8 internalization and could be reversed by the addition of calcium ions. In contrast, calcium depletion increased staining intensity with one anti-CD8beta mAb. CONCLUSIONS: Divalent cation chelators are used as cell anti-clumping agents in MACS or FACS applications. Researchers should be aware that such treatment could lead to the almost complete loss of fluorescence with selected anti-human CD8alpha mAbs. Since CD8 staining is used in conjunction with tetramer staining to identify antigen-specific cytotoxic human T cells, the effect of calcium depletion should be taken into account in experimental design.     

Crosslinking of the CD5 antigen on human T cells induces functional IL2 receptors.

CD5 is a 67-kDa antigen that is expressed on the membrane of the majority of human T cells, and on a subset of B cells. Previous studies have demonstrated that anti-CD5 monoclonal antibodies (mAb) can provide a helper signal for T cell activation through the TCR/CD3 complex. We now demonstrate that when CD5 is crosslinked by immobilized anti-CD5 mAb in the absence of other activating stimuli, the T cells proliferate in response to recombinant interleukin 2 (rIL2) (but not to rIL4). Four different anti-CD5 mAb (anti-Leu1, 10.2, anti-T1, and OKT1) had a similar effect. IL2 responsiveness could be induced with immobilized anti-CD5 mAb in cultures of purified T cells, but was enhanced by the addition of monocytes, by monocyte culture supernatant, or by the combination of IL1 and IL6. Staining with an anti-IL2 receptor (p55) mAb demonstrated expression of IL2 receptors on about 10% of the anti-CD5-stimulated T cells. Both virgin (CD45RA+) and memory (CD45RO+) T cells were responsive. Our data provide further evidence for the involvement of CD5 in T cell activation.     

CD56brightCD16- killer Ig-like receptor- NK cells display longer telomeres and acquire features of CD56dim NK cells upon activation

Human NK cells can be divided into CD56(dim)CD16(+) killer Ig-like receptors (KIR)(+/-) and CD56(bright)CD16(-) KIR(-) subsets that have been characterized extensively regarding their different functions, phenotype, and tissue localization. Nonetheless, the developmental relationship between these two NK cell subsets remains controversial. We report that, upon cytokine activation, peripheral blood (PB)-CD56(bright) NK cells mainly gain the signature of CD56(dim) NK cells. Remarkably, KIR can be induced not only on CD56(bright), but also on CD56(dim) KIR(-) NK cells, and their expression correlates with lower proliferative response. In addition, we demonstrate for the first time that PB-CD56(dim) display shorter telomeres than PB- and lymph node (LN)-derived CD56(bright) NK cells. Along this line, although human NK cells collected from nonreactive LN display almost no KIR and CD16 expression, NK cells derived from highly reactive LN, efferent lymph, and PB express significant amounts of KIR and CD16, implying that CD56(bright) NK cells could acquire these molecules in the LN during inflammation and then circulate through the efferent lymph into PB as KIR(+)CD16(+) NK cells. Altogether, our results suggest that CD56(bright)CD16(-) KIR(-) and CD56(dim)CD16(+)KIR(+/-) NK cells correspond to sequential steps of differentiation and support the hypothesis that secondary lymphoid organs can be sites of NK cell final maturation and self-tolerance acquisition during immune reaction.     

The CD45RO (p180, UCHL1) marker: complexity of expression in peripheral blood.

Analysis of peripheral blood lymphocytes by two- and three-colour high-sensitivity staining with UCHL1 (CD45RO) and other markers shows that the expression of CD45RO on lymphocyte subsets is more complex than is generally supposed. In addition to the populations which express CD45RO and RA in a mutually exclusive manner, up to 30% of cells in adult blood express both markers, at low levels. This "intermediate" population includes CD4-positive cells, and a proportion of these cells express the p55 chain of the IL-2 receptor (CD25), suggesting that they are activated. In cord blood there are few RO-bright cells, but CD45RO is expressed at low intensity on a proportion of cells. Among the CD45RO-bright cells in adult blood at least two subsets can be detected by using MHC Class II and the homing receptor L-selectin as additional markers. This complexity suggests that memory cells are a subset of CD45RO-expressing cells, but that this marker is also found on cells that are activated but not irreversibly "switched" to memory cells.