Studies on the distribution of lymphocyte subpopulations in human tissues Part 1. Fundamental studies on identification of lymphocyte subpopulations and their application to lymphoid organs

Thymus-derived lymphocytes (T-cells) and bone marrow-derived lymphocytes (B-cells) in the cryosection of human tissues were identified either by rosette formation with sheep erythrocytes (E) or with erythrocytes sensitized with antibody and complement (EAC), respectively. Invariable and stable reaction was obtained in EAC rosettes of the tissue lymphocytes while E binding of them was rather unstable. E could be adhered in the thymus sections which were obtained from normal infants during open heart surgery, but EAC did not bind to them at all. It was confirmed that B-cells located mostly in the lymph follicles of the lymph nodes as well as the palatine tonsils and T-cells were present predominantly in the paracortical area and interfollicular region. B-cells in the germinal centers would generally have more activated C(3) receptors than those of the mantle zones. In addition, B-cells of the lymph follicles both in the lymph nodes and in the palatine tonsils could be also detected utilizing the membrane immunofluorescence technique. The proportion of T and B-cells distribution in the lymphoid tissue was well correlated with that obtained on free cell suspension technique.Therefore, it could be concluded that T and B lymphocytes were able to identify respectively even in tissue level.