Functional heterogeneity among the T-derived lymphocytes of the mouse

A number of T cell functions were followed in mice after thymectomy in adult life and it was found that T cells involved in these functions could be divided roughly into two subpopulations: one whose activity was relatively long-lived and one, relatively short-lived.

Abstract

We have studied the properties of T-cells which when activated by concanavalin A (Con A) either suppress or help the in vitro humoral response of mouse spleen cells. Previously established criteria for the T-cell populations, T1 and T2 were applied. T1 cells were defined by their short half-life (2–3 wk) after adult thymectomy (ATx) and their resistance to small doses of antithymocyte serum (ATS). T2 cells were defined by their long half-life (~15 wk) and their high sensitivity to ATS. T-cells which could be activated by Con A to help the response to the thymus-dependent antigen, sheep red blood cells, were found mainly in the T2 subpopulation. T-cells which could be activated by Con A to suppress the response to the thymus-independent antigen, trinitrophenyl-lipopolysaccharide (TNP-LPS), were found within both the T1 and T2 subpopulations. These results, our previous results, and those of others suggest that the T-cell responses to phytomitogens distinguish precursors committed to different functions, while the T1 and T2 classifications distinguish T-cells at different stages of maturation.