Cytochemical markers for T mu and T gamma. A comparative study

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Cell Biology
• Cytochemistry

Background:

• Lymphocyte enumeration is crucial for diagnosing and monitoring immune status.
• Existing methods for T lymphocyte identification can be complex or require specialized equipment.
• Cytochemical markers offer a potentially simpler and more accessible approach.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a cytochemical procedure for detecting esterase alpha naphtyl acetate (ANAE) and beta glucuronidase (BG) activity in human circulating lymphocytes.
• To evaluate the correlation between BG positive cells and T gamma cells.
• To confirm ANAE activity as a marker for T mu cells.

Main Methods:

• Cytochemical staining for ANAE and BG activity on purified human lymphocytes.
• Rosette formation assay using sheep red blood cells to identify T gamma cells.
• Comparison of cell counts obtained through cytochemical methods and rosette assays.

Main Results:

• A strong correlation was observed between the number of BG positive cells and T gamma cells in healthy individuals and patients with allergic/respiratory conditions.
• In healthy individuals, T gamma cells were 12.5 +/- 0.5% and BG positive cells were 14.0 +/- 14%.
• ANAE activity was confirmed as a cytochemical marker for T mu cells, suggesting its utility in accurate T lymphocyte enumeration.

Conclusions:

• Cytochemical evaluation of ANAE and BG activity provides a reliable method for enumerating T lymphocytes in humans.
• BG activity serves as a useful marker for T gamma lymphocytes.
• ANAE activity is a valid cytochemical marker for T mu lymphocytes, enhancing diagnostic capabilities.