This Article Order Full text via Infotrieve Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Inghirami, G. Articles by Knowles, D. M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Inghirami, G. Articles by Knowles, D. M.

American Journal of Pathology, Vol 136, 357-367, Copyright © 1990 by American Society for Investigative Pathology

REGULAR ARTICLES

Flow cytometric and immunohistochemical characterization of the gamma/delta T-lymphocyte population in normal human lymphoid tissue and peripheral blood

G Inghirami, BY Zhu, L Chess and DM Knowles
Department of Pathology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032.

We determined the quantitative and topographic distribution of gamma/delta lymphocytes in normal human lymphoid tissue and peripheral blood using a monoclonal antibody that detects a framework determinant on delta molecules and delineated the immunophenotypic characteristics of the gamma/delta lymphocyte population by one- and/or two-color immunohistochemical and two- and/or three-color flow cytometric analysis. Variable, but generally small, numbers of gamma/delta lymphocytes are present in peripheral blood and in all lymphoid tissues. The vast majority, greater than or equal to 90%, of lymphoid tissue delta lymphocytes reside in interfollicular (T-cell) zones. Approximately 90% of delta thymocytes are present in the thymic medulla. The percentage of CD3-positive T cells that express delta are: spleen 12.5 +/- 8.1%, peripheral blood 4.0 +/- 3.1%, appendix 2.9 +/- 1%, lymph node 2.2 +/- 1%, thymus 1.4 +/- 0.5%, and tonsil 0.7 +/- 0.5%. We further demonstrated that 1) gamma/delta-thymocytes and gamma/delta peripheral lymphocytes express T-cell lineage restricted antigens CD3 and CD2 but only a variable subset, 30% to 90%, express T- cell lineage associated antigens CD5 and/or CD8; (2) approximately 60% of gamma/delta thymocytes express low-density CD4 while all gamma/delta peripheral lymphocytes lack detectable CD4; 3) gamma/delta lymphocytes lack natural killer (NK), macrophage, and B-cell associated antigens CD16, CD14, and CD20, respectively, but greater than or equal to 70% of gamma/delta T lymphocytes express CD11b, Leu7, and NKH-1, antigens, which are also expressed by suppressor/cytotoxic and NK cells; and 4) a large subpopulation, approximately 25%, of gamma/delta thymocytes are in S1-G2 phase, while greater than or equal to 98% of gamma/delta peripheral lymphocytes are small lymphocytes in G0-G1 phase and lack activation/proliferation markers. Together these results indicate that gamma/delta lymphocytes are resting, mature T cells that probably play a primary role in suppressor/cytotoxic phenomena. They also indicate that gamma/delta lymphocytes variably express multiple-cell surface antigens associated with various cell lineages, suggesting that gamma/delta lymphocytes represent a considerably more heterogeneous cell population than previously appreciated and that they may actually subserve multiple functions.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. Baccala, D. Witherden, R. Gonzalez-Quintial, W. Dummer, C. D. Surh, W. L. Havran, and A. N. Theofilopoulos {gamma}{delta} T Cell Homeostasis Is Controlled by IL-7 and IL-15 Together with Subset-Specific Factors J. Immunol., April 15, 2005; 174(8): 4606 - 4612. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. Toth, M. Alexander, T. Daniel, I. H. Chaudry, W. J. Hubbard, and M. G. Schwacha The role of {gamma}{delta} T cells in the regulation of neutrophil-mediated tissue damage after thermal injury J. Leukoc. Biol., September 1, 2004; 76(3): 545 - 552. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. A. Bogdan, A. A. Alexander, M. K. Gorny, R. Matute, N. Marjanovic, S. Zolla-Pazner, P. D. Walden, H. M. Furneaux, G. S. Sidhu, and D. R. Jacobson Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia with Prostate Infiltration Mediated by Specific Clonal Membrane-bound IgM Cancer Res., May 1, 2003; 63(9): 2067 - 2071. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. P. Greer, M. C. Kinney, and T. P. Loughran Jr. T Cell and NK Cell Lymphoproliferative Disorders Hematology, January 1, 2001; 2001(1): 259 - 281. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Matolcsy, R. G. Nador, E. Cesarman, and D. M. Knowles Immunoglobulin VH Gene Mutational Analysis Suggests that Primary Effusion Lymphomas Derive from Different Stages of B Cell Maturation Am. J. Pathol., November 1, 1998; 153(5): 1609 - 1614. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. G. Horenstein, R. G. Nador, A. Chadburn, E. M. Hyjek, G. Inghirami, D. M. Knowles, and E. Cesarman Epstein-Barr Virus Latent Gene Expression in Primary Effusion Lymphomas Containing Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus/Human Herpesvirus-8 Blood, August 1, 1997; 90(3): 1186 - 1191. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Matolcsy, P. Casali, R. G. Nador, Y.-F. Liu, and D. M. Knowles Molecular Characterization of IgA- and/or IgG-Switched Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia B Cells Blood, March 1, 1997; 89(5): 1732 - 1739. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Cesarman, Y. Chang, P. S. Moore, J. W. Said, and D. M. Knowles Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus-Like DNA Sequences in AIDS-Related Body-Cavity-Based Lymphomas N. Engl. J. Med., May 4, 1995; 332(18): 1186 - 1191. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]