Subpopulations of normal and leukemic human thymocytes: an analysis with the use of monoclonal antibodies

J Natl Cancer Inst. 1980 Jul;65(1):33-42.

Abstract

Combinations of antibodies to membrane antigens and to terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) were used to study human thymocyte and bone marrow subpopulations and leukemia cells. Cortical thymocytes were TdT+ and expressed T-cell antigens (HuTLA+), a thymocyte-specific antigen (HTA-1+), and a leukocyte antigen (HLe-l++) but lacked detectable HLA-A,B,C and la (HLA-D) antigens. In contrast, medullary thymocytes were TdT-, HuTLA+, HTA-1-, HLe-l++. A small subpopulation of larger, probably immature, thymocytes were strongly TdT+, HuTLA+, la-, HTA-1-, HLe-l +/-. Many blast cells from cases of thymic acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Thy-ALL) showed the phenotype of this small subset, and only a proportion of Thy-ALL blast cells exhibited HTA-1 and HLe-l antigens as strongly as was observed on normal cortical thymocytes. In contrast, TdT+ cells observed in normal juvenile bone marrow were HuTLA, HTA-1-, HLA+, la+. This phenotype corresponded to the phenotype of the common form of ALL (non-T, non-B) and indicated that further studies are necessary to analyze the differentiation of bone marrow precursors to thymic cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies / immunology*
  • Antigen-Antibody Complex
  • Bone Marrow / immunology
  • Bone Marrow / pathology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Clone Cells
  • Cytological Techniques
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Techniques
  • Leukemia, Lymphoid / diagnosis
  • Leukemia, Lymphoid / immunology
  • Leukemia, Lymphoid / pathology*
  • Lymphoid Tissue / immunology
  • Lymphoid Tissue / pathology
  • Phenotype
  • T-Lymphocytes / pathology*
  • Thymus Gland / immunology
  • Thymus Gland / pathology

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Antigen-Antibody Complex