OKT4 epitope deficiency in significant proportions of the black population. A cause for underestimation of helper/suppressor lymphocyte ratios

Monoclonal antibodies such as OKT4, OKT4A, Coulter T4, and Leu 3a are commonly used to define subsets of human peripheral blood lymphocytes having helper activity in vitro. Analysis of peripheral blood lymphocyte populations is a useful aid in the diagnosis of immunodeficiency syndromes. Peripheral blood lymphocytes of certain black and oriental patients do not mark with the conventional OKT4 antibody but do mark with OKT4A and Leu 3a antibodies. We determined helper subset populations of peripheral blood lymphocytes as delineated by OKT4, OKT4A, and Coulter T4 antibodies in 103 unselected patients from two tertiary care hospitals. Twenty percent of black patients without clinical immunodeficiency demonstrated marked reduced numbers of cells marking with OKT4 antibody, but normal numbers of cells marking with OKT4A and Coulter T4 antibodies. No white patients demonstrated this trait to the degree seen in black patients. Use of OKT4 antibody to define helper cell percentages in black patients may lead to underestimation of these percentages in certain hospital populations.     

Immunophenotypic markers in renal cell carcinoma.

We studied immunophenotypic and tumor cell markers in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) to determine if there are patterns of expression which may correlate with biologic behavior and response to therapy. Fourteen RCCs from 13 patients were stained by the immunoperoxidase technique using primary antibodies to Leu 4, Leu 14, Leu 2a, Leu 3a and b, lysozyme, dendritic reticulum cell (DRC), S-100, HLA-DR, epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) and beta-2-microglobulin (B2-MG). Staining was correlated with tumor stage, nuclear grade, histologic patterns, degree of cellular infiltrate, and clinical followup. Four RCCs were stage T1, four T2, five T3, and one T4. Most tumors were clear or granular cell type, with a solid or tubular growth pattern. The number of infiltrating lymphocytes and monocytes correlated with tumor grade and stage. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) were predominantly Leu 3-positive (T-helper phenotype). B-cell markers were negative. Dendritic cells were rare. HLA-DR was present on endothelial cells in 11 tumors and on tumor cells in ten. HLA-DR expression increased with tumor grade. Tumor cells expressed EMA in 12 cases; B2-MG in four cases. Two patients, stages 3 and 4, died at 2 and 6 mo. Conclusions: (a) T-helper cells and monocytes infiltrate RCCs. Their numbers increase with tumor grade and stage. (b) HLA-DR expression by tumor cells tends to correlate with increasing stage and grade. (c) Dendritic cells are infrequent in RCCs.     

Immunohistological evidences of cortical and medullary differentiation in thymoma

Summary The phenotypical characteristics of human epithelial and lymphoid cells have been studied with immunohistochemical methods on frozen sections of 12 thymomas. On the basis of the cytohistological characteristics of thymoma epithelial cells (EC) the thymomas were divided in cortical, medullary and mixed types, according to recently developed light microscopical criteria. When tested with a series of monoclonal antibodies, thymoma EC were all stained by the antibody Ki-M3 (as in the thymus), but reacted with anti-HLA-DR, anti-HLA-A,B,C and with a new monoclonal antibody to cortical EC,21A6, to a lesser extent and with weaker, variable intensity in comparison with the normal thymus. Cortical type thymomas were most reactive and the medullary type almost negative. Thymomas, like normal thymus showed different immunoreactivity patterns with antibodies to prekeratins of different specificities. Cortical type thymomas and areas in mixed thymoma showed an EC staining with the antibody to non-squamous type keratin (35H11) whereas medullary type thymomas and areas showed staining with antibodies to squamous-type keratin (34E12-IV/82) in addition. Lymphoidcellswithcortical(OKT6+,Leu 1 weakly+,Leu2a+,Leu3a+) or mature medullary (OKT6-, Leu 1 strongly+, Leu 2a or Leu 3a+) phenotype were found to colonize tumours with diferent EC types. These immunohistochemical findings largely confirm our earlier cytological distinction of thymoma EC. In addition important differences have been observed in neoplastic cortical EC concerning the HLA-DR and 21A6 immunoreactivity that may be intimately related to the neoplastic process and paraneoplastic immune phenomena.This work has been supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, SFB 111, project CN5     

The predominant lymphocyte in most thymomas and in nonneoplastic thymus from patients with myasthenia gravis is the cortical thymocyte

Cell suspensions prepared from 12 specimens of nonneoplastic thymus (6 normal and 6 from patients with myasthenia gravis) and from 17 thymomas were investigated with a panel of monoclonal antibodies. The great preponderance of thymocytes from the 12 nonneoplastic specimens and from 13 of the 17 thymomas (2 of 3 predominantly lymphocytic tumors and 11 of 12 mixed tumors) displayed the surface phenotype of cortical or common thymocytes. These cells formed rosettes with unsensitized sheep erythrocytes (E-rosettes) at both 4 and 37 degrees C, and reacted with the following monoclonal antibodies: OKT1 (thymic and peripheral T cells), OKT6 (common thymocytes), OKT10 (replicating lymphoid cells), OKT11 (sheep cell receptor), and both OKT4 (inducer-helper T cells) and OKT8 (cytotoxic-suppressor T cells). Few B cells (lymphocytes with either immunoglobulin or Ia-like antigen on the cell surface), and few cells with receptors for transferrin and interleukin 2 were detected. Thymocytes from 3 of the 4 remaining thymomas (2 predominantly epithelial tumors and 1 mixed tumor) displayed surface marker characteristics of medullary thymocytes or peripheral T cells; i.e., they were reactive with OKT1, OKT3 (peripheral T cells), OKT11, and either OKT4 or OKT8, and were also E-rosette positive only at 4 degrees C and TdT negative. Thymocytes from the final tumor, a lymphocytic thymoma, exhibited an intermediate phenotype. Thus, almost all mixed (11 of 12) and lymphocytic (2 of 3) thymomas were composed predominantly of cortical thymocytes, while the medullary cell was the rule in the two tumors that were predominantly epithelial.     

Lymphocyte subsets in normal human lymphoid tissues

A series of B, T, natural killer (NK) cell, and monocyte-specific monoclonal antibodies was used to determine the localization of lymphocyte subpopulations in frozen tissue sections of human lymph node, spleen, tonsil, and thymus by means of an immunohistochemical technic. In thymus, most cortical thymocytes reacted with Leu 1, Leu 2a, Leu 3a, Leu 4, Lyt 3, OKT3, and OKT6 antibodies. Except for OKT6, Leu 2a, and Leu 3a, these antibodies also reacted with medullary thymocytes. The majority (70-80%) of medullary thymocytes reacted with Leu 3a and a smaller fraction (20-30%) with Leu 2a antibody. The staining pattern of thymic medulla approximates the staining pattern of peripheral T cells. In peripheral lymphoid tissues, the majority of cells in the paracortical region of lymph node and in the periarteriolar sheath of spleen stained with Leu 1, Leu 4, OKT3, and Lyt 3 antibodies. Staining with Leu 3a and Leu 2a identified 60-80% and 20-40% of total T cells, respectively, as defined by Lyt 3 positivity. In addition, a substantial number of Leu 3a+ and Leu 7+ cells were found in the germinal centers of secondary follicles. This finding supports the importance of these subsets of lymphocytes in regulation of the human immune response. Leu 2a+ cells were rare in tissues with prominent follicular hyperplasia, but appeared in considerable number in the red pulp of spleen. In the mantle zone of lymphoid follicles, the majority of lymphocytes were positive for IgM, IgD, and B1. Approximately 60-70% of these cells bore kappa chain and 30-40% lambda chain immunoglobulin. The extracellular substance in germinal centers was positive for B1, IgG, IgM, kappa, and lambda. The majority of germinal center cells appeared to contain no surface or cytoplasmic immunoglobulins. Small mononuclear cells bearing OKM1 marker were abundant in the marginal zone of white pulp and in the red pulp of spleen but, rarely were observed in other portions of lymphoid tissues. OKM1 also reacted with granulocytes. Leu 7+ (NK) cells were rare in the thymus, but frequent in the GC of secondary follicles. The distribution of Leu 7+ cells did not correspond to staining with Lyt 3 and Leu 2a.     

Phenotype of human T helper and suppressor cells in an in vitro specific antibody response

Monoclonal anti-human T cell antibodies have been used to identify cells which provide help for an in vitro specific antibody response to influenza virus and also those which suppress the response of allogeneic peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The helper cells carry antigens defined by the Leu 3a and OKT4-antisera, whereas the suppressor cells are predominantly Leu 2a- and OKT8-positive. Help and suppression in this secondary in vitro antibody response are therefore provided by antigenically distinct T cell subsets.     

Interstitial nephritis related to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents and beta-lactam antibiotics: a comparative study of the interstitial infiltrates using monoclonal antibodies

Acute interstitial nephritis (AIN) is a common pattern of renal injury induced by therapeutic agents. In order to characterize the types of mononuclear leukocytes infiltrating the kidney in drug-induced interstitial nephritis, a panel of monoclonal antibodies (Leu1, Leu3a, OKT8, OKM1, Leu14, OKT17, IL-2) was applied to cryostat sections of 13 renal biopsies (five non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAID) (Group I); five beta-lactam antibiotics (Group II), 3 miscellaneous (Group III]. The majority of infiltrating mononuclear leukocytes were Leu1-positive T cells (71.7 +/- 18.7%), followed by monocytes (15.2 +/- 7.7%) and B cells (7.4 +/- 9.1%). Leu3a/OKT8 ratio was 0.954 +/- 0.341. Rare cells reacted with antibody to the interleukin-2 receptor (1.4 +/- 1.2%). No statistically significant differences could be found in the percentages of T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, monocytes, activated (IL-2+) T cells or Leu3a/OKT8 (helper/suppressor) ratios in the three groups. In Group II, the following pathologic correlations were seen: Leu3a/OKT8 versus interstitial inflammation (R = -0.848), percent Leu3a versus interstitial inflammation (R = -0.818), percent OKT17 versus tubulitis (R = 0.785), percent Leu14 versus tubular atrophy (R = -0.891), and interstitial edema (R = 0.965). Our findings support a role for cellular immune mechanisms in the pathogenesis of AIN related to both NSAIDs and beta-lactam antibiotics.     

Characterization of individual tumor necrosis factor alpha-and beta-producing cells after polyclonal T cell activation

Mononuclear cells from human blood were stimulated to tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) or beta (TNF beta) production by the T cell mitogens anti-CD3 antibody (OKT3) or staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA). The cells were then fixed and subsequently permeabilized in suspension by the detergent saponin in order to enable TNF alpha- or TNF beta-specific antibodies to enter the cells and interact with cytoplasmic TNF in producer cells. A characteristic morphology of the staining pattern of the two cytokines was noted, with a local accumulation in the cytoplasm in a perinuclear position reflecting the presence of TNF alpha or -beta in the Golgi system. TNF alpha-producing cells appeared 2-3 h after activation of the cultures and increased up to 6 h. The majority of these early TNF alpha-producing cells were monocytes as judged by two-color staining and morphology, but a small fraction of CD4- and CD8-positive T cells was found up to 72 h. TNF beta production started later and peaked 18 or 48 h after OKT3 or SEA stimulation, respectively. The number of TNF beta-producing cells was much larger than that of TNF alpha-producing cells, and approximately 90% of them were CD4-positive T cells. The remaining TNF beta production occurred in CD8-positive T cells and in B cells. Almost every second CD4-positive T cell made TNF beta at the peak of the SEA-induced synthesis. The cytotoxic activity found in the supernatants correlated well with the number of TNF-producing cells found in the cultures. Cells from fresh blood or unstimulated cultures showed no or very few TNF-producing cells.     

Heterogeneity in Expression of the T4 Epitope in Black Individuals

The T-cell differentiation antigen T4/Leu3 has been described as a non-polymorphic molecule important in T-cell recognition of class II major histocompatibility complex antigens. We report the polymorphism of this molecule in black individuals as manifest by a heterogeneity of staining with OKT4 monoclonal antibody. No such heterogeneity was observed when staining with other monoclonal antibodies that bind to different epitopes of the same molecule. No heterogeneity of staining with any of the monoclonal antibodies was observed in whites. Three patterns of OKT4 staining emerged: intact, deficient, and intermediate. This heterogeneity is likely to be due to an intrinsic heterogeneity in T4 epitope expression and not secondary to an interfering plasma factor as shown by the preservation of the T4 epitope pattern after a 3-day culture in the presence or absence of mitogen. Family studies strongly suggest that this heterogeneity in T4 epitope expression is inherited in an autosomal codominant fashion.     

Class II antigens in Hashimoto thyroiditis. II. Expression of HLA-DR on infiltrating mononuclear cells in peripolesis

Surgical specimens from patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT) or colloid goiter (CG) were analyzed using an immunofluorescence double staining technique to characterize the infiltrating mononuclear cells (MNC) and to determine the possible expression of HLA-DR antigens by these cells. In HT the majority of infiltrating MNC were T cells. In the interstitium T cells with helper/inducer phenotype (Leu 3a+) were more abundant than those with suppressor/cytotoxic phenotype (OKT8+) and approximately 10-25% of all T cells expressed HLA-DR. Among the cells in peripolesis [i.e., protruding between thyroid epithelial cells (TEC)] OKT8+ cells were observed more frequently than Leu 3a+ cells, expression of DR antigens being 7 and 12%, respectively. The occurrence of Leu 3a+ cells in peripolesis is in marked contrast to the findings in colloid goiter where the intraepithelial population of MNC is almost exclusively composed of OKT8+ cells. The various ways in which the peripoletic Leu 3a+ cells could contribute to the special pathogenesis of HT are discussed.     

Fibronectin is present on B-cells but not on OKT 3-positive T-lymphocytes or Leu 11-positive natural killer cells

We examined T-cells, B-cells, and natural killer cells of four normal individuals for surface-bound fibronectin (FN) using fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis and double fluorescence labeling with monoclonal antibodies. While Leu 12 (CD 19)-positive B-cells stained also uniformly with anti-FN antibody, neither OKT 3 (CD 3)-positive T-cells nor Leu 11 (CD 16)-positive natural killer cells could be labeled with anti-FN. Although an anti-FN receptor antibody was not available, these data strongly suggest a distinct pattern of FN-binding by human lymphocytes.     

Phenotypic expression of T lymphocytes in thymus and peripheral lymphoid tissues.

The pattern of expression of cell surface antigens and their relationship to the sequence of T-cell differentiation were delineated by the application of a series of monoclonal antibodies against T cells on tissue sections. The morphologic features and location of T-cell differentiation can be categorized into four stages: 1) subcapsular thymocytes, 2) cortical thymocytes, 3) medullary thymocytes, and 4) peripheral T cells. Phenotypically, on the basis of reactivity with monoclonal antibodies, T cells could be separated into two groups: immature and mature T cells. All stages of T cells expressed T200, Lyt 3, Leu 1, OKT3, Leu 9, and TA1, although staining intensities varied between thymic cortex and medulla. Mature T cells (medullary thymocytes and peripheral T cells) stained more intensely than immature T cells for some antigens, such as Leu 1, OKT3, and Leu 9, and, therefore, probably have a greater antigen density. Immature T cells, exemplified by subcapsular and cortical thymocytes, were characterized by the expression of Tdt, Leu M3, OKT6, OKT9, J5, BA-2, OKT10, and usually coexpressed both helper (T4/Leu 3a) and suppressor (T8/Leu 2a) antigens. With further maturation, medullary thymocytes and peripheral T cells lost reactivity for the above-mentioned markers, acquired A1G3 and Leu 8, and segregated into either T4+/Leu 3a+ or T8+/Leu 2a+ cells. A subpopulation of T cells in germinal centers differs from the majority of peripheral T cells by virtue of an absence of expression of Leu 8/A1G3. This histologically localized subset of T cells may be responsible for the mediation of helper function within the germinal center.     

Two color flow cytometry of lymphocytes from patients with adult T-cell leukemia

Lymphocytes from eight patients with adult T-cell leukemia were analyzed by two color flow cytometry. Monoclonal antibodies (Leu 3 a, Leu 8, Leu 2 a and Leu 15) labelled with fluorescein isothiocyanate or phycoerythrin were used. The purpose was to identify the subsets of the lymphocytes as helper, suppressor/inducer, suppressor or cytotoxic by the surface marker of the cells. All eight patients had antibodies for ATLA. Proviral DNA in the lymphocytes was found in six patients. Summarising the results, OKT4-positive ATL cells were all of the helper T-cell subset, not the inducer subset. OKT8-positive ATL cells were also positive for OKT4 and were all of the cytotoxic T cell subset, not the suppressor subset. In two patients, some ATL cells had both OKT4 and OKT8 on the same cells, especially in the lymph nodes. In our study, ATL cells from eight cases of ATL had all of the helper T subset. These results suggest that the target cells of the human T cell leukemia/lymphoma virus type will be helper T cells.     

Identification and isolation of OKT4+ suppressor cells with the monoclonal antibody WR16.

The monoclonal antibody WR16 was secreted by a hybridoma produced by fusing splenocytes from a BALB/c mouse immunized with human T-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia cells and the murine myeloma cell line NS-O. WR16 reacts specifically with human lymphocytes and binds to 48% of OKT4+ T lymphocytes and the majority of B lymphocytes. Human OKT4+ tonsil lymphocytes were subfractionated into WR16-/OKT4+ and WR16+/OKT4+ subpopulations by the panning technique. The capacity of these cells to help or suppress pokeweed mitogen-induced immunoglobulin (Ig) secretion by autologous B lymphocytes was monitored after 9 days of coculture. Cells of phenotype WR16-/OKT4+ enhanced Ig secretion in excess of that found with non-fractionated OKT4+ lymphocytes, whilst WR16+/OKT4+ lymphocytes suppressed Ig secretion when added to a mixture of B lymphocytes and non-fractionated OKT4+ cells. The WR16-/OKT4+ subpopulation was further fractionated by use of the MoAb Leu 8. Forty-two percent of WR16-/OKT4+ lymphocytes bound Leu 8, and cells of the phenotype WR16-/OKT4+/Leu 8+ were found to induce B-lymphocyte Ig secretion, whilst WR16-/OKT4+/Leu 8- lymphocytes were less active in this system. These data confirm the heterogeneity of the human T helper/inducer subset and indicate the existence of a population of OKT4+ lymphocytes that can suppress Ig secretion in the absence of OKT8+ lymphocytes.     

Immunogold staining: an alternative method for lymphocyte subset enumeration. Comparison with immunofluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry

An immunogold staining procedure for light microscopic enumeration of peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets defined by monoclonal antibodies (OKT3, OKT4, OKT8, OKIa1, Leu 1, Leu 4, Leu 2a, Leu 3a, Leu 10, Leu 12, B1) is described. It uses colloidal gold-labeled goat anti-mouse Ig (GAM G40 and GAM G30) as second layer and a methyl-green pyronin counterstain. Performed on small volumes of blood without sophisticated laboratory equipment, this method allows accurate cell type recognition and permanent records, essential for longitudinal observations. By enumerating the gold particles on positively labeled cells, it was shown that the staining reactivity depended on the monoclonal antibody used. Lymphocytes reacting with OKT8 or OKIa1 or B1 exhibited the strongest labeling whereas OKT4+ cells were weakly labeled. When compared with flow cytometry analysis in healthy subjects, the accuracy, precision and sensitivity of both methods were very similar. Similarly, a close correlation (97%) was found between immunogold staining and immunofluorescence microscopy in 35 patients with various diseases suggesting that immunogold staining may be useful in a clinical context.     

Immunohistochemical study of T cell subsets in lung tissue and in BALF of patients with farmer's lung disease

The purpose of this study was to ascertain the immunological abnormality of hypersensitivity pneumonitis. The relationship between T cell subsets of lymphocytes in transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) specimens and in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were studied in 3 cases of farmer's lung disease (FLD). The lung specimens were examined by immunoperoxidase staining (ABC method) and the cells in BALF by the immunofluorescence method on the flowcytometry. All cases of FLD were diagnosed according to the following criteria: 1) history of exposure to FLD antigen, 2) clinical symptoms (cough, fever, breathlessness), 3) radiologic feature (diffuse small nodular pattern) and functional pattern of interstitial lung disease and 4) evidence of antibodies against Micropolyspora faeni. Histologically, granulomatous interstitial pneumonitis was revealed in all cases. Immunohistochemically, the number of positive lymphocytes was as follows: for Leu 4 (pan T cell) 8.6 cells/15.6 x 10(-3) mm2; Leu 3a (helper/inducer T cell) 5.1 cells; Leu 2a(suppressor/cytotoxic T cell) 1.2 cells on average, respectively. The Leu 3a+ cells were larger in number than the Leu 2a+ cells and the Leu 3a+/Leu 2a+ ratio was 4.76. In the BALF, the percentage of OKT3+ cells (pan T cell) was increased. The percentage of OKT4+ cells (helper/inducer T cell) was higher than that of OKT8+ cells (suppressor/cytotoxic T cell). The OKT4+/OKT8+ ratio was 6.65 in the BALF. The result of this study revealed the close relationship between the numerical distribution of T cell subsets in the lung tissue and in the BALF. It is suggested that the immuno-reaction in the lung tissue of patients with FLD is a type of helper-T cell alveolitis.     

Mechanisms by which accessory cells contribute in growth of resting T lymphocytes initiated by OKT3 antibody

This study was undertaken to determine how accessory cells (AC) participate in growth of normal resting T cells initiated by anti-T3 monoclonal antibodies. Highly purified peripheral blood resting T cells were obtained by sequentially using three procedures (adherence to plastic surface, adherence to nylon wool columns and treatment with four monoclonal antibodies against antigens on AC and activated T cells plus complement). The assays for T cell growth were carried out at low cell density (10(4) cells/well) and with T cell populations where we could not detect cells bearing OKM1 and Ia antigens. Soluble OKT3 antibody, concanavalin A, recombinant interleukin 2 (IL 2) or purified interleukin 1 (IL 1) alone did not induce proliferation of purified resting T cells. Recombinant IL2 together with soluble OKT3 antibody stimulated significant growth whereas purified IL1 and two distinct preparations derived from AC containing IL 1 activity did not. Nevertheless, purified IL 1 amplified the proliferation of T cells induced by soluble OKT3 antibody in the presence of a small number of irradiated AC (3%). Phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) together with soluble OKT3 antibody activated purified resting T cells to proliferate, but PMA alone had little growth-promoting activity only. Soluble OKT3 antibody did not by itself induce a detectable number of resting T cells to express receptors for IL2 as determined by direct immunofluorescence staining and FACS analysis with monoclonal anti-IL2 receptor antibody. Cloned IL2 or purified IL1 alone did not induce resting normal T cells to express receptors for IL2 either. In contrast, T cells exposed to both soluble OKT3 antibody and IL2 exhibited IL2 receptors. PMA alone stimulated some resting T cells to express IL2 receptors and this response was significantly increased when the drug was used together with soluble OKT3 antibody. Studies were performed with unfractionated mononuclear cells from a donor whose cells respond to OKT3 (IgG2) but not to Leu 4 (IgG1) anti-T3 antibodies. Recombinant IL 2 but not purified IL 1 corrected the defective response to Leu 4 antibody. Finally, OKT3 antibody linked to beads, but not in soluble form, and purified IL1 replaced AC in growth of purified resting T cells. Based on these data I conclude the following: (a) AC participate in growth of resting normal T cells initiated by anti-T3 antibodies through their Fc receptors in two ways, namely, by providing a matrix to favour cross-linking of the T3 complex and simultaneously by secreting IL1.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Analysis of large-cell lymphomas using monoclonal and heterologous antibodies.

Fifteen cases of large-cell lymphoma, diagnosed as centroblastic (5), B-immunoblastic (5) or true histiocytic (5). lymphoma and one case of malignant histiocytosis were studied with monoclonal antibodies. Each diagnosis was based on morphological as well as marker studies. A panel of monoclonal and heterologous antibodies against T lymphocyte differentiation antigens (Leul, Leu2a, Leu3a, OKT4, OKT8, TA1), B lymphocyte subsets (BA1, BA2, HLA-DR, alpha C3b receptor antiserum, surface immunoglobulins), the common acute lymphoblastic leukaemia antigen (CALLA), monocytes/macrophages (OKM1, anti-human monocyte 1, TA1, Mac1, HLA-DR, anti-C3b receptor), myeloid cells (VIM-D5, elastase, OKM1) and the cells of the Langerhans cell/interdigitating reticulum cell series (OKT6, NA1/34). The results show a specific staining pattern for true histiocytic lymphoma (histiocytic sarcoma). Centroblastic and B-immunoblastic lymphomas showed gradual differences with mostly strong staining for HLA-DR and weak with anti C3b receptor for B-immunoblastic lymphomas in contrast to centroblastic lymphomas. Staining with BA1 and BA2 indicated immunological heterogeneity in these lymphomas. The number of admixed cells was usually low with few B cells and a shift in the ratio helper/inducer to suppressor/cytotoxic T cells in favour of the suppressor/cytotoxic subset.     

A case of Henoch-Schoenlein purpura with extremely low OKT4 positive T lymphocytes

We present a patient with Henoch-Schoenlein purpura who had extremely low number of OKT4 positive T lymphocytes. However his lymphocytes responded normally to Leu3a and Coulter T4, which are also monoclonal antibodies that react with CD4 epitope. In vitro lymphocyte function tests revealed that helper-inducer T cell functions were normal. From these findings, we concluded that this patient had an abnormality in the epitope of CD4 positive cells. Since expression of OKT4 antigens in his mother was also low, we considered the possibility of hereditary factors although no relationship with HLA was found.     

Lymphoid stroma of Warthin's tumor: phenotypic analogies with gut-associated lymphoid tissue

Lymphocytes in cell suspensions and cryostat sections of Warthin's tumors (WT) have been phenotypically characterized using a battery of monoclonal and polyclonal antisera to lymphoid cell-associated antigens. The present study shows that in the WT lymphoid stroma, B cells are more numerous than T lymphocytes and include a significant percentage of surface immunoglobulin A-bearing cells. Of the T cells, the Leu 3a+ and OKT4+ lymphocytes are present in higher percentages than the OKT8+ ones. Both T-cell subsets present a topographic distribution which is similar to that found in human tonsils and gut tunica propria. Intraepithelial lymphocytes displaying an OKT8+, Leu 3a-, OKT3- phenotype are also present. These data, together with previous findings which have demonstrated that Warthin's tumor epithelium synthesizes IgA secretory piece, suggest that these cells may modulate the organization of the surrounding lymphoid stroma toward that of a mature lymphatic tissue phenotipically resembling gut-associated lymphoid tissue.