Subpopulations of human T lymphocytes occupy different microenvironments.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to G Goldstein.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Monoclonal antibodies recognizing human T cell differentiation antigens were used to study lymphocyte populations in three cutaneous diseases. Neoplastic lymphocytes from patients with varying phases of cutaneous T cell lymphoma (mycosis fungoides, Sezary syndrome and related presentations) were reactive with OKT1 and OKT3 (pan T cell reagents) and OKT4 (an antibody defining the functional "helper" T cell subset). The malignant cells lacked membrane antigens reactive with OKT5 and OKT8 (markers of "suppressor" T cells). The presence of an OKT1+, OKT3+, OKT4+, OKT5-, OKT8- phenotype on the neoplastic T lymphocytes of cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL) supports the clinical impression that all phases of CTCL represent a single disease entity. A patient with pemphigus vulgaris, a disease of autoreactive, antiepidermal antibodies was shown to consistently have a marked expansion of the peripheral blood OKT4 reactive T lymphocyte population. These findings suggest that autoantibodies in pemphigus vulgaris may occur in the context of a profound OKT4/OKT5 immunoregulatory imbalance. Peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients ith extensive psoriasis vulgaris had a normal profile of reactivity with the OKT antibodies. In addition, OKT6 (marker of intrathymic T cells) has been shown to react with Ia+ dendritic cells in the epidermis suggesting that this antibody may recognize Langerhans' cells.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
The pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis is unknown, but clear abnormalities of the immune system are well documented in this disease. We therefore evaluated T cell subpopulations in patients with rheumatoid arthritis using monoclonal antibodies previously shown to react with all T cells (OKT3), with inducer/helper T cells (OKT4) and with suppressor/cytotoxic T cells (OKT8). These investigations disclosed evidence of a significant decrease in the number of OKT8+ cells/mm3 and a high inducer-helper/suppressor-cytotoxic (OKT4+/OKT8+) ratio in active rheumatoid arthritis. A modest number of patients with active arthritis were treated wit levamisole or with synthetic thymopoietin 32-36 (thymopoietin pentapeptide or TP-5). These individuals responded with ratio decreases to more normal levels. Our data support the hypothesis that monoclonal T cell antibodies may offer an important tool for the further evaluation of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and their individual response to treatment.
OKT3 monoclonal antibody to human T cells inhibits the target cell lysis mediated by allogeneic cytotoxic T cells and the generation of these effector cells in mixed lymphocyte culture. This marked inhibition of cell-mediated lysis is not found with other monoclonal antibodies also reactive with cell surface antigens of human T cells (OKT1, OKT4, OKT5, OKT6, OKT8, and OKT11). OKT3 antibody is mitogenic and this effect appears to require receptor activation in that it occurs at low concentrations (10(-12) M range) of OKT3 antibody, requires intact OKT3 IgG, and is inhibited by a factor(s) in human plasma. By contrast, the inhibition of allogeneic cell-mediated lysis by OKT3 antibody appears to be due to steric hindrance in that it requires higher concentrations of OKT3 antibody (10(-8) M range), Fab fragments retain approximately 10% activity, and inhibition is demonstrable in the presence of human plasma. These findings are consistent with the suggestion that OKT3 antibody reacts with the human T-cell antigen-recognition structure.
Reactivity of a monoclonal antibody with human Langerhans cells was demonstrated by a double-labeling immunofluorescence technique. Ia-bearing cells of the epidermis (Langerhans cells) were reactive with this antibody both in frozen sections and in cell suspensions prepared from human epidermis. This monoclonal antibody was unreactive with non-Ia-bearing epidermal cells and with peripheral blood B cells, T cells, and monocytes but did not bind to 70% of intrathymic lymphocytes. These observations further distinguish Langerhans cells from classical monocytes. Furthermore, this monoclonal antibody is a highly specific marker for the in vivo identification and in vitro isolation of Langerhans cells.
Three cell surface antigens that are structurally related to the human major histocompatibility antigens (called HLA antigens) have been characterized from the leukemic T cell line MOLT-4. One antigen is a glycoprotein of Mr 49,000 recognized by two monoclonal antibodies. OKT6 and NA1/34, and is associated with a Mr 12,000 subunit that crossreacts serologically with beta 2-microglobulin but can be distinguished from it by sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. A second antigen, defined by the monoclonal antibody OKT10, is a Mr 46,000 protein associated with a small subunit distinct from beta 2-microglobulin. The OKT10 antigen is not restricted to T cells and is found on all T and B lymphoblastoid cell lines tested. The third protein is a beta 2-microglobulin-associated glycoprotein of Mr 43,000 that is serologically distinct from the OKT6 (NA1/34), OKT10, and HLA antigens. It is found on some, but not all, T cell lines but is absent from any other hematopoietic cell lines tested.
It has been hypothesized that the right hemisphere ages more rapidly than the left, but there have been no direct empirical studies aimed at confirmation of that hypothesis. Within the framework of a cross-sectional design, 1,247 subjects, divided into six age groups (20's-70's), were tested with a modified Halstead-Reitan battery. The test scores were analyzed with the Russell, Neuringer, and Goldstein localization key, with each case being evaluated for number of right- and left-hemisphere points. It was found that there was a significant increase in right-hemisphere points with age, with a significant, but less pronounced, effect for left-hemisphere points. The same effect was found in a subsample of nonbrain-damaged medical and psychiatric patients. It was also established on the basis of neurological diagnostic evidence that there was not a coincidental increase in structural lateralized brain damage with age in the present sample. The results were discussed in terms of possible differences in functional organization of the two hemispheres, the general conclusion being that the right hemisphere ages in a different manner than does the left.
Eight cadaver donor renal allograft recipients, who had received azathioprine and prednisone from the day of transplantation, were treated with OKT3 monoclonal antibody (reactive with all mature peripheral blood T cells) at the time of diagnosis of acute rejection. In all cases, loss of essentially all detectable peripheral blood OKT3-reactive cells was noted within minutes after the initial 1- to 5-mg i.v. infusion. Chills and fever invariably occurred following the first or second infusion of monoclonal antibody, but were not noted during the subsequent, 10- to 20-day course of therapy, suggesting rapid cell lysis as the etiology of this toxicity. The established rejection episode was reversed in all cases within 2 to 7 days without addition of any therapy other than OKT3 antibody and despite continued lowering of the steroid dosages. During the subsequent 3- to 12-month follow-up period, further rejection episodes occurred in five of these patients, two of these were irreversible with conventional therapy so that six of the eight allografts continue with excellent renal function. These preliminary observations suggest that homogeneity, limited dosage requirements, and ease of in vitro monitoring of dosage effects should markedly simplify the use of monoclonal antibody to T cell populations in human allograft recipients. This second generation of antilymphocyte preparations offers the potential for not only increased effectiveness but also the possibility of manipulating specific T cell subsets.
Five monoclonal antibodies have been tested for their ability to bind to myeloid precursor cells in normal human bone marrow. Indirect immunofluorescence and the fluorescence activated cell sorter was used to separate cells according to their reactivity for trial culture in vitro in order to grow granulocyte-macrophage colony forming cells (CFUc). Two antibodies (OKT3 and OKT11) which react strongly with bone marrow T lymphocytes were found to be unreactive with CFUc. YD1/23 reacts very strongly with both T and B lymphocytes but is only weakly reactive with CFUc. In contrast, OKT10 and YE2/36 did react with CFUc. The consequences of these findings and the potential clinical use of these antibodies in bone marrow transplantation are discussed.
Monoclonal antibodies to human T cells permit the characterization of the surface phenotype of cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL). The majority of CTCL cells are reactive with OKT1 and OKT3 monoclonals, which identify peripheral T cells and mature thymocytes. The neoplastic cells also react with OKT4, which recognizes the inducer T cell subset; they are, however, unreactive with OKT5 monoclonal, which identifies cytotoxic/suppressor T cell subsets. These data are in agreement with previous functional studies demonstrating that CTCL is a neoplasm of inducer (helper) T cells.
In the present report we extended our previous studies demonstrating that obligatory T-T interactions are important in regulating human immune responses in vitro. Functionally distinct human T cell subsets were isolated by complement-mediated lysis using the monoclonal antibodies OKT4 and OKT8. Evidence was obtained that during allogeneic interactions, OKT4+, but not OKT8+, responder T cells are required to generate helper factor(s) capable of polyclonally activating human B cells independent of additional T cell help. Importantly, the alloantigen-induced helper factor(s) production and/or release was found to be suppressed by addition of graded numbers of radiosensitive OKT8+ cells. On the other hand, no evidence was obtained that supernatant derived from alloactivated OKT8+ cells could counterbalance the helper activity generated in the presence of supernatant from alloactivated OKT4+ cells. Furthermore, OKT8+ cells, known to suppress PWM-driven B cell differentiation in the presence of OKT4+ cells, do not suppress B cell differentiation induced by preformed helper factor even in the presence of OKT4+ cells. These data further underscore the importance of functional T-T interactions in immunoregulation in vitro and support the idea that the target of suppression of B cell differentiation, induced either by alloantigen-triggered helper factor or PWM, are OKT4+ cells and not B cells themselves.
T lymphocytes in the normal human intestinal tract have been analysed in tissue sections by a double-marker immunofluorescence technique, combining antiserum to T lymphocyte antigen (HuTLA) with a monoclonal antibody detecting T cells of suppressor-cytotoxic phenotype (OKT8). The distribution of HLA-A -B, -C and Ia-like antigens in intestinal mucosa was also examined by a similar method. In small and large intestine 67 to 90% (mean 70%) of intraepithelial T lymphocytes were of suppressor-cytotoxic phenotype (OKT8+). In contrast, only 27 to 56% (mean 39%) of lamina propria T cells were OKT8+. Intestinal epithelial cells demonstrated strong membrane staining for HLA-A, -B, -C antigens. Ia-like antigens were detected on the epithelial cells of small intestinal villi, but not on colonic epithelial cells. Lamina propria macrophages expressed both HLA-A, -B, -C and Ia-like antigens, the latter having strong membrane and cytoplasmic fluorescence. The distribution of T cells with suppressor-cytotoxic or inducer phenotype in the intestinal epithelium and lamina propria may be related to the differential expression of Ia-like and HLA-A, -B, -C antigens in intestinal mucosa.
Three new techniques have been introduced for the phenotypic analysis of human thymocytes and T cells. Monoclonal antibodies of different subclasses (i.e. IgG1 and IgG2) were used in various combinations and labelled with subclass-specific second layers conjugated to different fluorochromes. Tissue sections were studied with combinations of monoclonal and conventional reagents, and anti-mouse Ig-coated macrobead columns were used to separate antibody-tagged cells. With the help of these simple techniques, four stage of thymocyte differentiation (prothymocyte, cortical, intermediate and medullary cell types) can be described in detail and the microanatomical relation of T cell subsets with other cell types studied.
OKT4, a murine monoclonal antibody, was previously shown to react with inducer/helper T cells in man. We now report the absence of this reactivity in 2 subjects of African ancestry and the production of 4 new monoclonal antibodies (OKT4A-D) that detect distinct antigens on human inducer/helper T cells.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
A panel of reagents (OKT1, 3, 4, 6, 8, and 11) detects differentiation antigens expressed exclusively on HuTLA+ T lymphoid cells but absent on bone marrow precursors, such as terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase- (TdT) positive cells, immature myeloblasts, and other myeloid/erythroid cell types. In the bone marrow no transitional forms could be detected between TdT+ and T cells. The BM T cells showed mostly the suppressor/cytotoxic phenotype (OKT8+) with only a few T cells of inducer type (OKT4+). Thymocyte heterogeneity was also analyzed directly in tissue sections and in double labeling assays in combination with TdT staining, a marker for cortical thymocytes. Many large thymic blasts (in fetal and infant thymus) showed reactivity with OKT11--a pan-T reagent, but had only weak or negligible activity with the other antibodies. Cortical thymocytes reacted strongly with OKT11, 6, 4, and 8, whereas medullary cells reacted with OKT11, 3, 4 (majority) and 8 (minority). Thus, the reactivity with these antibodies is generated in the thymus at various stages of differentiation. In contrast, OKT10 (an anti-"precursor cell" reagent) reacted not only with thymocytes but also with TdT+ BM precursors, myeloblasts, and BM B lymphocytes although it was unreactive with mature peripheral lymphoid and maturing myelo/erythroid cells.
In previous reports we have demonstrated that human T cells, responding to soluble and alloantigens, release helper factor(s) that amplify primary in vitro hapten-altered-self-reactive CTL responses. In the present studies, we have employed complement-fixing monoclonal antibodies (OKT4 and OKT8) that recognize functionally distinct human T cell subsets to investigate the role of T-T interaction in the generation of these killer cells. In all experiments, purified OKT4+ responder T cells were deficient in cytotoxic activity, whereas responder populations containing OKT8+ T cells generated substantial cytotoxicity; demonstrating that TNP-altered-self-reactive CTL precursors are contained within the OKT8+ T cell subset. Further, optimal cytotoxic responses were obtained from responder populations containing both OKT4+ and OKT8+ T cells, suggesting that cooperative interaction between these subsets may result in an amplification of killer cell activity. This interpretation was supported by the following observations: (1) the amplifying effect of soluble antigen required the presence of both OKT4+ and OKT8+ responders; (2) during MLC, OKT4+ but not OKT8+ responder T cells generate helper factor(s) that amplify TNP-altered-self-reactive CTL responses; (3) helper factor(s) bypass the requirement for direct OKT4-OKT8 T cell interaction, triggering a CTL response that is proportional to the percentage of OKT8+ T cells present within the responder population. In additional studies, we determined that the TNP-altered-self-reactive effector CTL maintain the OKT3+, OKT4-, OKT8+ surface phenotype displayed by the CTL precursor.