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The Cell Surface Phenotype of Human Natural Interferon‐α Producing Cells as Determined by Flow Cytometry
Author(s) -
SVENSSON H.,
JOHANNISSON A.,
NIKKILÄ T.,
ALM G. V.,
CEDERBLAD B.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.934
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1365-3083
pISSN - 0300-9475
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-3083.1996.d01-289.x
Subject(s) - flow cytometry , cd80 , cd86 , biology , population , cd40 , antigen , t cell , microbiology and biotechnology , immunology , immune system , cytotoxic t cell , medicine , in vitro , biochemistry , environmental health
The relationship between the so‐called natural interferon‐α (IFN‐α) producing cell (IPC), stimulated to produce IFN‐α by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV), and of dendritic cells (DC) in peripheral blood leucocytes was investigated. The simultaneous expression of cell surface antigens and intracellular IFN‐α in the HSV‐stimulated IPC (HSV‐IPC) was examined by flow cytometry (FCM). The HSV‐IPC were infrequent, <0.3% of the mononuclear leucocytes, and with homogeneous light scatter characteristics. The HSV‐IPC were confirmed to lack leucocyte lineage specific markers, and to express CD4, CD36 and HLA‐DR. Furthermore, they expressed high levels of CD44, CD45RA and CD45RB, and lower levels of CD40, CD45R0, CD72 and CD83. The HSV‐IPC expression of CD13, CD33 and FcεRI were weak but significant, while no CD5, CD11b, CD16, CD64, CD80 or CD86 were detected. Sorted pure HSV‐IPC had irregular shaped nuclei, many mitochondria and vesicles, and rugged cell membranes without veils. Sorted HSV‐IPC stimulated proliferation of autologous T cells from HSV immune donors. Thus, the HSV‐IPC in many respects resemble immature DC, but clearly differ from typical mature DC. However, they may also represent a specialized population of efficient IFN‐α producing cells.