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Lymphocytes with parallel tubular structures: Morphologically a distinctive subpopulation

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Summary

Peripheral blood lymphocytes were fractionated in T, B and Null cell enriched subsets by means of sheep red blood cell rosette (ESRBC) sedimentation and nylon wool adherence. The ultrastructural features of these subpopulations were investigated.

The T cell fraction in which the sheep erythrocytes were removed from the ESRBC rosette-forming cells (ESRBC-RFC) by lysis with ammonium chloride, consisted mainly of two morphologically distinctive subsets. The majority of the cells (80%) displayed a smooth surface membrane and had a high nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio with few cytoplasmic organelles. The other cell type (18%) had a relatively rough surface membrane, a low nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio, often an indented nucleus and numerous cytoplasmic organelles such as characteristic amorphous granules and sometimes parallel tubular structures (p.t.s.). If the T cells were obtained after mechanical vibration of the ESRBC-RFC, the majority of these cells appeared morphologically identical to this latter cell type.

Cells with p.t.s. and amorphous granules were also demonstrated within the Null and B cell enriched fractions (50% and 25% repectively), though in the B cell enriched fraction this cell type is probably due to a contamination of Null cells.

Previous observations had already demonstrated that these cells in the three fractions represent the Fcγ receptor-bearing lymphocytes.

The similarities suggest that the Fcγ receptor-bearing and p.t.s. containing lymphocytes form a morphologically distinct subpopulation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Haematology, Department of Medicine, University of Groningen, Oostersingel 59, NL-9713 EZ, Groningen, The Netherlands

    J. W. Smit, N. R. Blom, M. van Luyn & M. R. Halie

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  1. J. W. Smit
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  2. N. R. Blom
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  3. M. van Luyn
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  4. M. R. Halie
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Supported by a grant from the “Stichting Koningin Wilhelmina Fonds, Nederlandse Organisatie voor de Kankerbestrijding”

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Smit, J.W., Blom, N.R., van Luyn, M. et al. Lymphocytes with parallel tubular structures: Morphologically a distinctive subpopulation. Blut 46, 311–320 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00320691

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00320691

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