The relationship between mitogen-induced rosette formation and the ability of expressing alpha-naphthyl acetate...

Some percentage of mouse thymocytes have been shown to display positive ANAE reaction and some to form mitogen-induced rosettes with SRBC. Both types of cells are not homogeneous with regard to their density. Above 90% of rosette forming cells are simultaneously ANAE positive. Cells with such characteristics are more resistant to hydrocortisone than cells carrying ANAE marker but being negative in terms of rosette formation. The role of ANAE positive and rosette forming cells played in the course of thymocyte differentiation is discussed.