Abstract
THE lifespan of thymic-derived or T lymphocytes is of particular interest because of their central role in immunological memory. Is the recall of a vaccination or early infection, which may be demonstrated clinically up to 50 years after antigen exposure1, retained by a long-lived cell, or by its progeny? Using the observation that T lymphocyte expression of isoforms of CD45 corresponds with their ability to respond to recall antigens, we have investigated the lifespan of both CD45RO (the subset containing responders, or 'memory' cells) and CD45RA (the unresponsive, or 'naive' subset) lymphocytes in a group of patients after radiotherapy. Here we report rapid loss of unstable chromosomes from the CD45RO but not the CD45RA pool. Immunological memory therefore apparently resides in a population with a more rapid rate of division. Differing survival curves for the two subsets are best described by a model in which there is also reversion in vivo from the CD45RO to the CD45RA phenotype. Expression of CD45RO in T cells may therefore be reversible.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Couch, R. B. & Kasel, J. A. A. Rev. Microbiol. 37, 529–549 (1983).
Buckton, K. E., Court Brown, W. M. & Smith, P. G. Nature 214, 470–474 (1967).
Beverley, P. C. L. Semin. Immun. 4, 35–41 (1992).
Erkeller-Yuksel, F. et al. J. Pediat. 120, 216–221 (1992).
Hayward, A. R., Lee, J. & Beverley, P. C. Eur. J. Immun. 19, 771–773 (1989).
Terry, L. A., Pickford, A. & Beverley P. C. L. in Leucocyte Typing III (eds McMichael, A. J. et al.) 225–227 (Oxford Univ. Press, Oxford, 1987).
Merkenschlager, M., Terry, L., Edwards, R. & Beverley, P. C. L. Eur. J. Immun. 18, 1653–1661 (1988).
Akbar, A. N., Terry, L., Timms, A., Beverley, P. C. & Janossy, G. J. Immun. 140, 2171–2178 (1988).
Merkenschlager, M. & Beverley, P. C. L. Int. Immun. 1, 450–459 (1989).
Warren, H. S. & Skipsey, L. J. Immun. 74, 78–85 (1991).
Rothstein, D. M., Yamada, A., Schlossman, S. F. & Morimoto, C. J. Immun. 146, 1175–1183 (1991).
Sparshott, S. M., Bell, E. B. & Sarawar, S. R. Eur. J. Immun. 21, 993–1000 (1991).
Hamerton, J. L. Human Cytogenetics (Academic, New York, 1971).
Buckton, K. E. & Pike, M. C. Int. J. Pad. Biol. 8, 439–444 (1964).
Mackay, C. R. Marston, W. L. & Dudler, L. J. exp. Med. 171, 801–817 (1990).
Sprent, J., Schaefer, M., Hurd, M., Surh, C. D. & Ron, Y. J. exp. Med. 174, 717–728 (1991).
Ralston, M. L. & Jennerich, R. I. Technometrics 20, 7–14 (1978).
Beverley, P. C. L. Immun. Today 11, 203–205 (1990).
Melchers, F. in Idiotype Networks in Biology and Medicine (eds Osterhaus, A.D.M.E. & UytdeHaag, F.G.C.M.) 3–12 (Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1990).
Gray, D. & Matzinger, P. J. exp. Med. 174, 969–974 (1991).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Michie, C., McLean, A., Alcock, C. et al. Lifespan of human lymphocyte subsets defined by CD45 isoforms. Nature 360, 264–265 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1038/360264a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/360264a0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.