FUNCTIONAL HETEROGENEITY OF MURINE LYMPHOID CELLS

Abstract

An appreciable percent (3–14%) of the lymphocyte-like cells of the mouse spleen lack both the θ-isoantigen and sufficient surface immunoglobulin to be detected by conventional immunofluorescence or autoradiographic procedures. These θ-,Ig- cells are increased in frequency after treatment of mice with antithymocyte serum or in mice that have been thymectomized, irradiated (850 R), and reconstituted with bone marrow cells. Moreover, in chimeric C57BL/6 mice in which the T cells are derived from (BALB/c x C57BL/6)F1 donors, θ-,Ig- cells also lack BALB/c histocompatibility antigens. These experiments indicate that θ-,Ig- cells are not θ- T lymphocytes. Removal of complement receptor lymphocytes from spleen cell populations increases the frequency of θ-,Ig- cells, indicating that such cells lack the complement receptor. Partially purified populations of θ-,Ig- cells have been obtained by cytolysis by anti-θ- and anti-κ-antibody and complement and by density gradient ultracentrifugation. These cells closely resemble lymphocytes in morphology. The only exceptional feature is the existence of prominent nucleoli. The θ-,Ig- cells lack hemoglobin and endogenous peroxidases, are not actively phagocytic, and do not adhere to glass. This suggests they are not of the erythroid, myeloid, or monocytoid lines. [3H]Thymidine labeling studies indicate that θ-,Ig- cells are members of a relatively slowly dividing cell pool. Whether θ-,Ig- cells are members of the "classical" B lymphocyte line or belong to another, as yet undescribed, lineage is not yet certain.