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. 1977 Jan 1;145(1):221–233. doi: 10.1084/jem.145.1.221

Detection, isolation, and functional characterization of two human T- cell subclasses bearing unique differentiation antigens

PMCID: PMC2180580  PMID: 137269

Abstract

A heterologous antihuman T-cell serum (anti-TH1), raised against purified peripheral T cells, and absorbed with an autologous Ig+ line, was shown to bind specifically to T- but not to B-lymphoid cells by both a complement-dependent cytotoxic assay and indirect immunofluorescence. Whereas 90% fetal thymocytes and thymocytes were killed by anti-TH1 and complement, a consistently restricted population (50-60%) of peripheral T cells from several normal donors were lysed, indicating that anti-TH1 is directed against one or more thymus- specific antigens which are lost or reduced on a subpopulation of human T cells in the periphery. Functional analysis of the unreactive (TH1-) and reactive (TH1+) T-cell subclasses demonstrated that TH1- cells mounted a good proliferative response to a battery of specific soluble antigens (mumps, PPD, tetanus toxoid) but neither responded in MLC, nor elaborated LMF in response to tetanus toxoid. In contrast TH1+ cells proliferated in MLC and elaborated LMF but did not respond by 3H- incorporation to soluble antigens. The relevance of these findings to human T-cell functions in vivo and to previously described functional subclasses of murine T cells is discussed.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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