Open AccessPhysical discrimination between human T‐lymphocyte subpopulations by means of light scattering, revealing two populations of T8‐positive cells
Author(s) -
Terstappen L. W. M. M.,
De Grooth B. G.,
Nolten G. M. J.,
Ten Napel C. H. H.,
Van Berkel W.,
Greve J.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
cytometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1097-0320
pISSN - 0196-4763
DOI - 10.1002/cyto.990070209
Subject(s) - light scattering , scattering , population , lymphocyte , immunofluorescence , biology , optics , physics , immunology , medicine , antibody , environmental health
Light‐scattering properties of human T‐lymphocyte subpopulations selected by immunofluorescence were studied. Based on differences in orthogonal light scattering, two subpopulations of T8‐positive cells can be distinguished. The first population (T8a) has the same orthogonal light‐scattering properties as T4‐positive cells, whereas the orthogonal light scattering of the second population (T8b) was about 70% larger. Orthogonal light scattering of Leu7‐positive lymphocytes resembles that of the T8b population. We have studied the occurrence of the subpopulation in healthy individuals and we discuss their possible functional identification. Light‐scattering properties of lymphocyte subpopulations in two patients with B‐cell chronic lymphatic leukemia suggest that this observation is of clinical interest.