Murine spleen lymphocytes bearing receptors for peanut agglutinin: VII. Separation and functional characterization

Abstract

Murine spleen lymphocytes having receptors for peanut agglutinin (PNA) were visualized by a specific rosetting technique. The number of lymphocytes forming PNA rosettes (PNA R +) is dependent on the PNA concentration used. T lymphocytes are the primary PNA-rosetting lymphocytes for low PNA concentration (2.5 μg/ml), while both T and B lymphocytes are involved in high PNA concentration (10 μg/ml). Functional studies show that when spleen lymphocytes are separated at a low PNA concentration, the PNA R + do not respond to T mitogens and suppress antigen-specific immune responses. However, when spleen cells are separated at a high PNA concentration, the PNA R + do not exhibit differential functional properties as compared to non-PNA-rosetting lymphocytes. The implication of these findings is discussed.