Phenotypic and Functional Distinctions between the TH2+ and JRA+ T Cell Subsets in Man

Abstract

Prior work has demonstrated the existence of distinct human peripheral blood T cell subsets by utilizing heterologous as well as autoimmune antisera. In the present study, the relationship between the TH₂⁺ and JRA⁺ T cell subsets was examined. T cells were purified with Sephadex G-200 anti-F(ab)₂′ affinity chromatography and E-rosetting technique, and subsequently fractionated into TH₂⁺ and TH₂^- subsets by utilizing indirect immunofluorescence on FACS. Approximately 40 to 45% of the TH₂^- subset was shown to be JRA⁺, whereas less than 5% of the TH₂⁺ subset was JRA⁺. In reciprocal studies, T cells were fractionated into JRA⁺ and JRA^- subsets and reacted with heterologous antisera with anti-TH₂⁺ specificity and indirect immunofluorescence. FACS analysis demonstrated that the JRA⁺ population contained no TH₂⁺ T cells. In contrast, the JRA^- population contained TH₂⁺ T cells and accounted for the entire TH₂⁺ subset found in the unfractionated T cell population. Functional studies showed that the TH₂⁺ subset, and not the JRA⁺ subset, contain the effector population for cell-mediated lympholysis. It is concluded that the TH₂⁺ and JRA⁺ T cell subsets define distinct and different T cell populations in man.