CHARACTERIZATION OF HUMAN TONSILLAR LYMPHOCYTES AFTER SEPARATION FROM OTHER TONSILLAR CELLS IN AN ISOKINETIC GRADIENT OF FICOLL IN TISSUE-CULTURE MEDIUM

Abstract

Purified human tonsillar lymphocytes responded less to mitogenic stimulation than unseparated tonsillar cells. Their response to mitogens was restored when they were combined with cells from all other gradient fractions. The majority of tonsillar lymphocytes apparently require the presence of more rapidly sedimenting cells for a maximum response to the tested mitogens. The purified tonsillar lymphocytes were 47.0% lymphocytes that had detectable surface immunoglobulin [Ig] and 29.9% lymphocytes that formed rosettes with sheep red blood cells. The predominant cell surface Ig was IgM. Digestion of the tonsil with trypsin yielded 10-fold more plasma cells, more viable cells and a larger proportion of blasts, histiocytes and binucleated cells than were obtained by mechanical dissociation of the tissue.