Internalization of CD4 molecules in human T-cells demonstrated by immuno-electron microscopy

Summary Internalization of CD4 molecules on human CD4-enriched T-cells was demonstrated by immunocytochemical electron microscopy. CD4⁺ T-cell subclones were obtained from normal human peripheral blood, followed by one-way MLC screening and co-culturing with IL-2. Fixed and non-fixed T-cell samples were indirectly immunolabeled with mouse anti-human CD4 monoclonal antibody and goat anti-mouse IgG conjugated with peroxidase. Unfixed T-cells were immunolabeled at 4° C and then re-incubated for 5–45 min at 37° C. The selected CD4⁺ T-cell subclones showed strong CD4 binding on the cell surface after IL-2 incubation. However, fresh T-cells, monocytes, bone marrow cells and CD8⁺ T-cells all stained negative for CD4. The distribution of CD4 molecules on the fixed cell surface showed a homogeneous pattern. Capping and internalization of CD4-antibody-peroxidase complexes from the cell surfaces were observed follow a pathway of receptor-mediated endocytosis in unfixed T cells. Endocytotic vesicles, vacuoles of diverse sizes and shapes near the cell membrane or deep in the cell center were found to contain CD4 molecules. Negatively stained Golgi saccules were observed up to 45 min after re-incubation. These results suggest that increased CD4 molecules can be induced on the surface of normal human T-cells in vitro. Internalization and accumulation of CD4 molecules occurred in CD4-enriched T-cells with IL-2 pretreatment.