Peanut Agglutinin as a Marker of Maturation and Activation of Chicken Thymic-Derived Lymphocytes

Abstract

In mammals peanut agglutinin (PNA) is used for separation of lymphocytes into immature and mature T-cells. Lymphocytes that bind PNA are young and functionally immature, but the cells that do not bind PNA are considered mature. No conclusive information was published on PNA as a marker of lymphocytes maturation in chickens. The present results showed that T-lymphocytes that do not bind PNA (PNA–) responded significantly higher to Concanavalin A (Con-A) stimulation than PNA+ ones. During Con-A activation, a PNA receptor was revealed. Double staining of Con-A cultured lymphocytes revealed the presence of both I-associated antigen and PNA. Therefore, the PNA receptor, on chicken T-lymphocyte, was not indicative always of immaturity. During maturation, the receptor was covered and the cells were PNA–, but subsequent proliferation reverted PNA– cells to PNA+ cells.