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Morphological Differences between Sub‐Populations of Human Lymphocytes Revealed by Scanning Electron Microscopy
Author(s) -
Kelly Graham E.,
Nockolds Clive E.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1600-0609
pISSN - 0036-553X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0609.1977.tb02342.x
Subject(s) - morphology (biology) , cell type , biology , cell , receptor , scanning electron microscope , cytolysis , microbiology and biotechnology , biophysics , chemistry , in vitro , biochemistry , materials science , genetics , cytotoxic t cell , composite material
Human lymphoid cells were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to see if a correlation existed between surface morphologic features and the presence of various surface markers and receptors. When viewed by SEM thymocytes appeared as smooth‐surfaced cells with few surface microvilli; peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) on the other hand were moderately to densely villate with no entirely smooth‐surfaced cells observed. Surface morphology within PBL samples was not uniform, due mainly to variations in the shape and number of microvilli. However, 2 distinctive types of surface morphology (termed Types 1 and 2) were discernable with a small number of cells displaying features of both groups (Type 3). The majority of E‐rosette forming cells (T lymphocytes) displayed Type 1 and the majority of cells bearing demonstrable surface immunoglobulin (B lymphocytes) displayed Type 2 morphology. Exposure of PBL to anti‐T cell specific ALG resulted in cytolysis of cells with Type 1 morphology while cells with Type 2 morphology appeared largely unaffected. PBL with Fc and C 3 receptors displayed all 3 types of morphology. It is concluded that T and B lymphocytes do have subtle but nevertheless discernable differences in surface morphology and within these 2 groups, variations in surface morphology are probably associated with changes in the physiological status of the cell.