Beta-glucuronidase activity in human T and B lymphocytes and the Tmu and T gamma subpopulations.

The beta-glucuronidase staining characteristics of isolated T cell populations and the Tmu and T gamma enriched fractions derived of them were studied. T gamma lymphocytes were obtained from purified T lymphocytes by ox-IgG rosette sedimentation. The rosette-forming cells in the pellet were referred to as T gamma lymphocytes, whereas the lymphocytes in the interface were referred to as T gamma depleted or Tmu lymphocytes. B cells were studied on rosetted mononuclear cells with either mouse erythrocytes or with Staphylococcus Aureus (Cowan I) bacteria, after a preceeding polyvalent anti-human Ig treatment of the cells. While B cells showed mostly no reactivity, Tmu and T gamma cells were respectively characterised by a "dot-like" and "granular" pattern of reactivity. These findings are in agreement with those observed by others after alpha-naphthyl-acetate esterase or acid phosphatase staining. Within the T lymphocyte fraction, the T non-mu, non-gamma lymphocytes seemed to have a granular pattern of reactivity. The same staining pattern was found in non-B, non-T lymphocytes.