Two subsets of rat T lymphocytes defined with monoclonal antibodies.

A new monoclonal mouse antibody that recognizes a subset of rat peripheral T cells has been prepared by immunizing mice with rat thymocyte glycoprotein. This antibody, designated MRC OX 8, labels all peripheral T cells that are unlabeled by the previously described W3/25 monoclonal antibody. No peripheral T cells were found that bound both antibodies, but, in contrast, 90% of thymocytes were doubly labeled. Thoracic duct lymphocytes of congenitally athymic nude rats were not labeled by either antibody, but the spleens of such animals contained both W3/25+ cells and MRC OX 8+ cells. These splenocyte subpopulations did not overlap. Using the fluorescence-activated cell sorter to isolate cells binding MRC OX 8 antibody, the phenotype of T cells mediating various T cell functions was established. Combining the present results with those published previously, it is shown that the cells providing help for antibody responses and those mediating graft-vs.-host reactions are phenotypically W3/25+ MRC OX 8-. On the other hand, parental T cells that suppress antibody formation in F1 hosts were identified as W3/25- MRC OX 8+. The relationship between the rat T cell subsets defined by these antibodies and those in the mouse identified by the Ly series of alloantibodies is discussed and a comparison made between teh rat W3/25+ subset and a recently identified human T cell subset.