Immunologic functions of isolated human lymphocyte subpopulations. VI. Further characterization of the surface Ig negative, E rosette negative (null cell) subset.

Sephadex G-200 anti-human Fab column chromatography and rosette depletion techniques were used to isolate three distinct subpopulations of human lymphocytes: 1) T cells which are surface Ig negative and E rosette positive, 2) B cells which are surface Ig positive and E rosette negative, and 3) a "Null" cell population which is both surface Ig negative and E rosette negative. All populations were analyzed for their capacity to develop surface Ig and synthesize Ig in vitro. Greater than 50% of cells in the Null cell population developed surface Ig by day 3 of cell culture. Furthermore, in vitro, the Ig content of the Null cell population, as well as their capacity to secrete Ig in culture, becomes comparable to that produced by B cells. In contrast, cultured T cells neither develop surface Ig nor secrete Ig in culture. These data strongly support the idea that the Null population contains a subset of Ig-producing B cells.