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Identification of Two Populations of Immunoglobulin-Bearing Lymphocytes in Man¹

Department of Internal Medicine, University of Virginia, Medical School, Charlottesville, Virginia

Abstract

Human peripheral blood lymphocytes bearing easily detectable surface immunoglobulin were quantitated with routine immunofluorescence procedures. The mean value in 17 healthy adults was 18% (range 9 to 30%). When the cells were preincubated at 37°C and washed at the same temperature before staining, the mean value decreased to 9% (range 4.5 to 18%) (p < 0.001). The mean value increased to 32% (range 15 to 49%) when the cells were prepared and washed at 4°C, and this value was also significantly different from values at room temperature (p < 0.01).

These temperature-related effects were explained by IgG that remained bound to the cell membrane at 4°C, but eluted at 37°C in serum-free medium. The total number of Ig-bearing lymphocytes and T lymphocytes determined by rosette formation with sheep erythrocytes approached 100%. These studies indicate two populations of Ig-bearing lymphocytes in healthy subjects: one with surface-stable Ig determinants, and another that lacks these markers, but has receptors capable of binding IgG.

Footnotes

¹ This work was supported in part by Grant 5R01-AM11766 from the United States Public Health Service and in part by a grant from the John A. Hartford Foundation, Inc.

² Reprint requests to: David A. Horwitz, M.D., Department of Internal Medicine, University of Virginia, Medical School, Charlottesville, Virginia 22901.