Identification of five human lymphocyte subpopulations by their differential binding of various strains of bacteria

Abstract

The property of various strains of bacteria to bind to lymphocytes is described and used to identify human lymphocyte subpopulations. The following bacterial strains isolated from patients were used: Arizona hinshawii (Ah), three strains of Escherichia coli (Ec 1, Ec 2, Ec 3), Bacillus globigii (Bg), Brucella melitensis (Bm), two strains of Corynebacterium diphtheriae (Cd 1, Cd 2), Cornyebacterium xerosis (Cx), Sarcina lutea (Sl), two strains of Staphylococcus aureus (Sa 1, Sa 2) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (Se). Purified human lymphocytes were centrifuged together with the bacteria, resuspended, and the percentage of cells with bacteria attached was determined by phase contrast microscopy. Each strain of bacteria was tested for its ability to bind to lymphocytes, to lymphocytes prelabeled with a different bacteria, and to lymphocytes prelabeled with anti-light chain antibody coated E. coli (a nonbinding strain). This procedure allowed the identification of five subpopulations of lymphocytes. B cells (15%) bound all the bacteria tested except Ec 1, Bg and Se. T 1 cells (15%) bound only Ah, Ec 1, Ec 2. Ec 3, Cd 1, and Se; T 2 (25%) bound only Ah, Bg, Ec 1, Ec 2, Ec 3, and Cx; T 3 (15%) bound only Cx, S1, and Sa 1; T 4 (30%) did not bind any of the bacteria tested. Three of the bacteria, Bm, Cd 2 and Sa 2 exclusively identified B cells.