A large number of CD4+ T cell clones, obtained from peripheral blood T lymphocytes by direct limiting dilution, allowed us to address the question whether functional heterogeneity exists within the human CD4+ T cell subset. Cytotoxic capacity of cloned T cells was analyzed with the use of anti-CD3 antibodies and target cells bearing FcR for murine IgG. 6 of 12 CD4+ clones obtained were able to lyse Daudi or P815 cells in the presence of anti-CD3 antibodies. The remaining six CD4+ T cell clones tested did not display anti-CD3-mediated cytotoxic activity and did not acquire this cytotoxic capacity during a culture period of 20 wk. In the absence of anti-CD3 mAb, no lytic activity against Daudi, P815, and K562 target cells was observed under normal culture conditions. Phenotypic analysis of these two distinct types of CD4+ T cells did not reveal differences with regard to reactivity with CDw29 (4B4) and CD45R (2H4) mAbs that have been described to recognize antigens associated with helper suppressor/inducer (respectively) CD4+ cells. The CD4+ clones without anti-CD3-mediated cytotoxic activities (Th2) consistently showed a high expression level of CD28 antigens, whereas the cytotoxic clones (Th1) expressed low amounts of CD28. Th1 CD4+ clones did produce IL-2, IFN-gamma, and TNF-alpha/beta, whereas the Th2 T cell clones produced minimal amounts of IL-2 and only low levels of INF-gamma and TNF-alpha/beta in response to anti-CD3 mAbs and PMA. Although not all CD4+ clones did release IL-4, there was no correlation with cytotoxic activity. Moreover, as compared with the Th1 CD4+ clones, Th2 CD4+ T cell clones proliferated moderately in response to immobilized anti-CD3 mAbs. However, proliferation reached the level of the cytotoxic clones when anti-CD28 mABs were present during culture. Both CD4+ subsets provided help for B cell differentiation upon stimulation with anti-CD3 mAbs. Our data suggest that the human CD4+ subset, in analogy to the murine system, comprises two functionally distinct T cell subpopulations, both of which are able to exert helper activity for polyclonal B cell differentiation, but which differ in cytotoxic capacity, lymphokine production, and requirements for proliferation. A function for these two types of T cells in the immune response is discussed.
Article|
November 01 1988
Clonal analysis of functionally distinct human CD4+ T cell subsets.
F T Rotteveel,
F T Rotteveel
Central Laboratory of the Netherlands Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service, Amsterdam.
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I Kokkelink,
I Kokkelink
Central Laboratory of the Netherlands Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service, Amsterdam.
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R A van Lier,
R A van Lier
Central Laboratory of the Netherlands Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service, Amsterdam.
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B Kuenen,
B Kuenen
Central Laboratory of the Netherlands Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service, Amsterdam.
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A Meager,
A Meager
Central Laboratory of the Netherlands Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service, Amsterdam.
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F Miedema,
F Miedema
Central Laboratory of the Netherlands Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service, Amsterdam.
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C J Lucas
C J Lucas
Central Laboratory of the Netherlands Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service, Amsterdam.
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F T Rotteveel
Central Laboratory of the Netherlands Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service, Amsterdam.
I Kokkelink
Central Laboratory of the Netherlands Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service, Amsterdam.
R A van Lier
Central Laboratory of the Netherlands Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service, Amsterdam.
B Kuenen
Central Laboratory of the Netherlands Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service, Amsterdam.
A Meager
Central Laboratory of the Netherlands Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service, Amsterdam.
F Miedema
Central Laboratory of the Netherlands Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service, Amsterdam.
C J Lucas
Central Laboratory of the Netherlands Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service, Amsterdam.
Online ISSN: 1540-9538
Print ISSN: 0022-1007
J Exp Med (1988) 168 (5): 1659–1673.
Citation
F T Rotteveel, I Kokkelink, R A van Lier, B Kuenen, A Meager, F Miedema, C J Lucas; Clonal analysis of functionally distinct human CD4+ T cell subsets.. J Exp Med 1 November 1988; 168 (5): 1659–1673. doi: https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.168.5.1659
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