Absence of interleukin 2 production in a severe combined immunodeficiency disease syndrome with T cells

We have characterized a child with a severe combined immunodeficiency disease syndrome with increased numbers, but a normal distribution, of CD3+ T cells. This patient's immunological defect appears to be attributable to a selective deficiency in T cell production of IL-2, which may reflect a subtle abnormality in the IL-2 gene locus or a defect in a regulatory factor necessary for IL-2 transcription. The increased numbers of phenotypically normal T cells in this patient suggest that alternative pathways of T cell development exist in man or that IL-2 production intra- and extrathymically is controlled via distinct regulatory mechanisms.

Both ongoing suppression and clonal elimination contribute to graft-host tolerance after transplantation of HLA mismatched T cell-depleted marrow for severe combined immunodeficiency

Lymphocytes from children with severe combined immunodeficiency who had been immunologically reconstituted with haploidentical T cell-depleted bone marrow were analyzed with regard to their immunologic recognition of donor, host, or third party alloantigens. When compared with freshly isolated donor lymphocytes, the engrafted donor cells exhibited markedly reduced to absent responses toward host Ag in primary or secondary MLC and cell-mediated lympholysis assays. However, under limiting dilution conditions, cytotoxic responses to host Ag could be demonstrated, indicating that small numbers of host reactive cells were present, although down-regulated at high responder cell doses. These results are consistent with prior observations in limiting dilution cultures that indicate that cells with the potential to lyse autologous target cells exist in the peripheral blood of all normal individuals. The number of host reactive cells present in these patients is significantly less than that present in cells isolated directly from the marrow donors, and is also less than the number of autocytotoxic cells normally seen in peripheral blood. Together, these observations indicate that two mechanisms contribute to donor host tolerance in these patients. The majority of host reactive cells appear to have undergone clonal deletion or inactivation, whereas the small residual host-reactive population appears to be under ongoing immunoregulatory control.

A novel autoregulatory cytokine is required for the regulation of autoaggressive responses

Limiting dilution studies indicate that cells with the potential to lyse autologous target cells exist in the peripheral blood of all normal individuals. In contrast to allocytotoxic cells, autocytolytic cells are down-regulated by a second less frequent cell population. When recombinant interleukin 2 is substituted for crude lymphocyte conditioned medium in these limiting dilution experiments, autocytotoxicity develops normally. Under these conditions, however, the autocytotoxic response is not down-regulated. Mixing crude lymphocyte-conditioned medium together with recombinant interleukin 2 restores the regulation of autocytotoxicity normally seen at high responder cell dose. These findings indicate that a second soluble factor present in the conditioned medium is necessary either for the activation, growth, or differentiation of the regulatory cell population or alternatively, to render the cytotoxic population responsive to the activity of regulatory cells. Gel filtration studies indicate that the molecular weight of this factor is between 60 and 80 kd. This factor appears to be distinct from known immunologically active cytokines. It is conceivable that deficiencies of this cytokine may be relevant to the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases or graft-versus-host reactions.

Both ongoing suppression and clonal elimination contribute to graft-host tolerance after transplantation of HLA mismatched T cell-depleted marrow for severe combined immunodeficiency

Lymphocytes from children with severe combined immunodeficiency who had been immunologically reconstituted with haploidentical T cell-depleted bone marrow were analyzed with regard to their immunologic recognition of donor, host, or third party alloantigens. When compared with freshly isolated donor lymphocytes, the engrafted donor cells exhibited markedly reduced to absent responses toward host Ag in primary or secondary MLC and cell-mediated lympholysis assays. However, under limiting dilution conditions, cytotoxic responses to host Ag could be demonstrated, indicating that small numbers of host reactive cells were present, although down-regulated at high responder cell doses. These results are consistent with prior observations in limiting dilution cultures that indicate that cells with the potential to lyse autologous target cells exist in the peripheral blood of all normal individuals. The number of host reactive cells present in these patients is significantly less than that present in cells isolated directly from the marrow donors, and is also less than the number of autocytotoxic cells normally seen in peripheral blood. Together, these observations indicate that two mechanisms contribute to donor host tolerance in these patients. The majority of host reactive cells appear to have undergone clonal deletion or inactivation, whereas the small residual host-reactive population appears to be under ongoing immunoregulatory control.

Differential expression and regulation of the human CD8 alpha and CD8 beta chains

The CD8 glycoprotein is expressed by thymocytes, mature T cells and natural killer (NK) cells and has been implicated in the recognition of monomorphic determinants on major histocompatibility complex (MHC) Class I antigens, and in signal transduction during the course of T-cell activation. Both human and rodent CD8 antigens are comprised of two distinct polypeptide chains, alpha and beta. The majority of monoclonal antibodies (mAb) reactive with the human CD8 antigen bind the CD8 alpha chain, while a single mAb, T8/2T8-5H7, has been identified which binds to the CD8 alpha/beta heterodimer. While the two chains of CD8 have been presumed to be coordinately expressed in normal T cells, this is not always the case. Northern blot analysis of a panel of T-cell leukemias and normal cells demonstrate that CD8 alpha and CD8 beta are not invariably co-transcribed and phenotypic analysis of fresh and interleukin 2 (IL-2) expanded peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) confirm that the CD8 alpha and CD8 beta chains are differentially expressed at the cell surface. Four distinct subpopulations of CD8+ cells have been identified based on the expression of CD8 alpha/alpha or CD8 alpha/beta complexes: (1) T-cell receptor (TcR) alpha beta+ T cells which are CD8 alpha+/beta+; (2) TcR alpha beta+ T cells which are CD8 alpha+/beta-; (3) TcR gamma delta+ T cells which are CD8 alpha+/beta- and (4) natural killer (NK) cells which are CD8 alpha+/beta-. We also demonstrate the down-regulation of the CD8 alpha/beta heterodimers from the surface of a CD8+ T-cell clone following treatment with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) while CD8 alpha/alpha homodimers remain on the cell surface. This observation demonstrates that a) a CD8+ T-cell clone can express both CD8 alpha/alpha homodimers and CD8 alpha/beta heterodimers and b) these two complexes do not have identical biological properties. Together, these data suggest that CD8 alpha/alpha and CD8 alpha/beta dimers may not subserve identical functions. The differential contribution of these two CD8 complexes should be considered in models of T-cell-mediated cytotoxicity and T-cell activation.

Phosphorylation and down-regulation of CD4 and CD8 in human CTLs and mouse L cells

The CD4 and CD8 molecules are rapidly phosphorylated following exposure of CD4+ or CD8+ human cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) clones to B-lymphoblastoid cell lines bearing the relevant target alloantigens. Treatment of CD4+ or CD8+ CTL clones with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), phytohemagglutinin, or mitogenic combinations of CD2-specific antibodies also resulted in CD4 or CD8 phosphorylation. Down-regulation of the surface expression of these molecules could be demonstrated in both CD4+ and CD8+ clones following exposure to the relevant alloantigen or PMA. Parallel experiments were conducted using mouse L cells in which the human CD4 or CD8 antigens were stably expressed. Exposure of these transfectants to PMA induced rapid phosphorylation of the CD4 and CD8 molecules. As in CD4+ CTL clones, rapid modulation of the CD4 antigen could be demonstrated in L cells following PMA treatment. In contrast, there was no demonstrable down-regulation of the CD8 antigen in PMA-treated CD8+ L cell transfectants. These studies demonstrate a significant differential property of the CD4 and CD8 antigens and suggest that down-regulation of the CD8 antigen may require its expression in a T-cell environment and/or the association of CD8 with the T-cell receptor or other T cell-specific molecules.

Graft failure after T-cell-depleted human leukocyte antigen identical marrow transplants for leukemia: II. In vitro analyses of host effector mechanisms

To identify mechanisms potentially contributing to graft failure, 19 leukemic recipients of T-cell-depleted marrow transplants who failed to engraft following a transplant of HLA identical sibling marrow depleted of T cells by soybean agglutinin (SBA) and sheep erythrocytes (E) were evaluated. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated at the time of failure were consistently of host origin, bearing the phenotype of suppressor T cells (CD3+, CD8+, Leu 7+). A direct cytolytic effect on 51Cr-labeled donor-derived target cells was not detected, a finding that contrasts with the donor-specific cytotoxic host T lymphocytes that have been regularly observed in patients rejecting HLA nonidentical SBA -E- BMTs. However, these host T cells did exhibit a strong and specific suppressive activity against the donor marrow CFU-GM in vitro. Furthermore, in contrast to prior findings in durably engrafted recipients of SBA -E- BMTs, the lymphocytes isolated prior to or at the time of graft failure lacked natural killer surface antigen expression and effector function.

Graft failure after T-cell-depleted human leukocyte antigen identical marrow transplants for leukemia: I. Analysis of risk factors and results of secondary transplants

Risk factors for graft failure were analyzed in 122 recipients of an allogeneic T-cell-depleted human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-identical sibling marrow transplant as treatment for leukemia. In each case pretransplant immunosuppression included 1,375 to 1,500 cGy hyperfractionated total body irradiation and cyclophosphamide (60 mg/kg/d x 2). No patient received immunosuppression prosttransplant for graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis. Nineteen patients in this group experienced graft failure. The major factors associated with graft failure were transplants from male donors and the age of the patient (or donor). Among male recipients of male donor-derived grafts a low dose per kilogram of nucleated cells, progenitor cells (colony forming unit-GM) and T cells was also associated with graft failure. Additional irradiation to 1,500 cGy, high dose corticosteroids posttransplant, and additional peripheral blood donor T cells did not decrease the incidence of graft failure. In addition, type of leukemia, time from diagnosis to transplant, an intact spleen, or the presence of antidonor leukocyte antibodies did not correlate with graft failure. To ensure engraftment of secondary transplants, further immunosuppression was necessary but was poorly tolerated. However, engraftment and survival could be achieved with an immunosuppressive regimen in which antithymocyte globulin and high dose methylprednisolone were administered both before and after infusions of secondary partially T-cell-depleted marrow grafts.

Loss of tolerance associated with disappearance of B cells in a patient sequentially transplanted with paternal and maternal bone marrow for the treatment of severe combined immunodeficiency disease

We have studied the tolerance of engrafted T cells from a severe combined immunodeficiency disease patient sequentially transplanted with T-cell-depleted bone marrow from both HLA haploidentical parents. The T cells from this patient were shown by HLA typing and cytogenetic analysis to be of material origin (donor of the second graft) while HLA typing of peripheral E--populations and of an Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B-cell line established 2 1/2 years after transplantation revealed the presence of host, maternal, and paternal (donor of the first graft) HLA antigens. When tested at 30 and 60 months after the last transplant, engrafted T cells from this patient had only weak mixed lymphocyte culture reactivity to paternal cells which could be inhibited by monoclonal antibodies to HLA-DQ and DR but not by anti-DP. T cells obtained 60 months after transplant were stimulated with paternal cells in both bulk and limiting dilution cultures and failed to generate typical allocytotoxic cells to paternal T- or B-cell targets. Mixed lymphocyte cultures performed at 71 months revealed an increased proliferative response by patient cells to paternal antigens; however, the engrafted T cells remained tolerant to maternal and host antigens. Limiting dilution analysis performed at this time revealed the presence of cytolytic cells directed to paternal antigens. There were no detectable B cells (only identified source of paternal antigen) as measured by immunofluorescent analysis of peripheral blood, nor any evidence of B-cell function as assessed by in vitro assays (proliferation to staphylococcus aureus Cowen strain A and mitogen-stimulated immunoglobulin production) or in vivo production of serum immunoglobulin at 60 and 71 months. The appearance of alloreactivity associated with the loss of B cells in this patient further supports the conclusion that the maintenance of tolerance to major histocompatibility complex disparate cells requires the continued in vivo presence of cells bearing the tolerizing antigens.

Characterization of B cells in severe combined immunodeficiency disease

The circulating lymphoid cells of eight consecutive untreated infants with severe combined immunodeficiency disease (SCID) with B cells were analyzed for surface marker expression and function. The B cells of these children expressed sIg, HLA-DR, CD19 (B4), CD20 (B1), CD21 (B2), Leu-8, and lacked expression of CD10 (CALLA), as do normal peripheral blood B lymphocytes. SCID B cells also expressed antigens that are normally absent or present on only a minor subset of circulating adult B lymphocytes, including CD1c (M241), CD38 (OKT10), CD23 (PL13), with or without concomitant CD5 (Leu-1) expression. The B cells of these children were capable of proliferating in vitro when stimulated with Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I. However, in the presence of pokeweed mitogen, S. aureus Cowan I, and normal T cells, the sIg+ cells of these children produced only IgM. Studies performed on normal B cells obtained from cord blood, young children, and adults reveal that whereas cord blood B cells are predominantly CD1c, CD38, and CD23 positive, B-cell expression of these antigens decreases with age. Cord blood B cells, similar to SCID B cells, produce only IgM when stimulated in vitro with pokeweed mitogen and S. aureus Cowan I. Based on these observations, we hypothesize that SCID B cells represent a population of B cells present during normal B-cell ontogeny which becomes a minor subset when an individual develops full immunologic competence.

Results of the flow cytometry ACTG quality control program: analysis and findings

The AIDS Clinical Trial Group's (ACTG) Immunology Committee was charged with initiating a quality control program for all laboratories participating in the ACTG program reporting flow cytometry data. Forty-one laboratories were evaluated. This report defines the goals of this program and the subsequent findings after 19 send-outs were made. Both HIV positive volunteer donors and normal age-matched donors were used. Sample sets included both heparin and EDTA anticoagulated bloods. Laboratories were asked to report hematologic parameters as well as flow cytometry data both in percentages and absolute numbers. Results were evaluated using nonparametric statistical analysis. Robust CVs and interquartile ranges were used to define the performance of individual laboratories for each CD subset analyzed. Intralaboratory reproducibility was analyzed by paired sample sets. All laboratories were found to be able to define normal samples as normal. Seventy-five percent of the laboratories were able to define abnormal samples as abnormal. Twenty-five percent could not identify two abnormal samples as abnormal. Forty percent of the labs were found unable to reproduce paired samples within an absolute of +/- 5%. EDTA was found slightly superior to heparin in bloods evaluated by flow cytometry within 30 hr of collection. The analysis of specific histograms, questionnaires, and data analysis led to a specific set of recommendations for performance of flow cytometry studies.

Immune reconstitution following bone marrow transplantation: comparison of recipients of T-cell depleted marrow with recipients of conventional marrow grafts

The reconstitution of hematopoietic cells and in vitro assays of immunologic function have been followed in leukemic patients after conventional bone marrow transplantation (BMT) (N = 34) and T-cell depleted BMT (N = 52) from human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-identical sibling donors. No effects of the T-cell depletion could be seen on the recovery of myeloid or lymphoid cells as measured by the day to engraftment or by the absolute number of cells through day 100. Normal numbers of lytically active natural killer cells returned the earliest and were rapidly followed in both groups of patients by the appearance of circulating B cells and normalization of the responses to B-cell mitogens. However, the recovery of normal T-cell proliferative responses were more delayed in recipients of T-cell depleted grafts. Significant quantitative differences were seen only during the first 3 months after transplantation. Neither the number of CD3+ T cells nor the ratio of CD4:CD8 positive cells differed markedly between the two transplant groups. Mitogen-induced immunoglobulin production by peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from patients following T-cell depleted BMT was quantitatively less than that of conventional marrow recipients through the first year, with low normal IgM production reached by 4 to 6 months in both groups. IgG production reached low normal 7 to 9 months after conventional BMT but did not remain at this level until 1 year following either type of transplant. Assessment of the incidence of infections from the day the absolute neutrophil count reached 500 until day 180 after transplant revealed no significant differences between the two groups; indeed, the overall nonleukemic mortality was higher in the recipients of conventional bone marrow. Thus, in our series, the removal of mature cells from the marrow graft did not affect the rate or degree of recovery of myeloid and lymphoid cells but did affect the regeneration of in vitro T-cell dependent functions. We noted early quantitative differences and a delay in the normalization of the T-cell functions measured rather than prolonged absolute deficiencies. The in vitro deficiencies did not result in significant clinically apparent differences between the two groups.

T-cell clones recognizing MHC products

A variety of factors may influence the reactivity of T cells with MHC products. In some cases, reactivity is dominantly influenced by one or a limited number of amino acid substitutions in the MHC molecule. Combinatorial epitopes that are dependent upon both alpha and beta chains can also be generated. MHC products, even from distinctive evolutionary backgrounds, may exhibit large regions of shared sequence, explaining patterns of clonal reactivity that would indicate the presence of shared epitopes. In other cases, epitopes may be truly cross reactive in nature, without regions of shared sequence. Indeed a limited number of clones may actually recognize either a class I or a class II MHC product. Finally, there are some patterns of clonal reactivity that cannot be explained by known structural variations. These clones either may recognize mixed class II dimers or may be influenced by peptide fragments presented in the groove of MHC gene products. This latter issue in particular requires a careful reconsideration of the process of allorecognition.

lambda PMV: a bacteriophage vector allowing single-step retrieval of cDNAs following expression in mammalian cells

A general strategy has been developed for expression and rescue of cDNAs in mammalian cells. cDNA libraries are constructed in a new phage vector, lambda PMV, which contains simian virus 40 (SV40) early region promoter sequences for transcription of cDNA inserts, as well as a dominant-acting selectable marker neo. Efficient transfer of the cDNA library to mammalian cells can be achieved by phage particle-mediated transfection. Following selection in the antibiotic G418, cells expressing the phenotype of interest are identified and isolated. Rapid recovery of the transfected cDNA is achieved through cell fusion of the transduced cells with COS cells. Replication at the SV40 origin promotes excision of the integrated cDNA as small circular DNA, which after isolation in this form is used to transform bacteria to ampicillin resistance. To test this strategy, a cDNA encoding the human lymphocyte differentiation antigen CD8 was inserted into lambda PMV. CD8 expression on the surface of mouse L cells and the efficient recovery of full-length CD8 cDNA inserts confirm the feasibility of this system. It is anticipated that the single-step screening of libraries constructed in lambda PMV will allow for the isolation of rare cDNAs and will prove less laborious than methods currently available.

The human Lyt-3 molecule requires CD8 for cell surface expression

We have previously identified a monoclonal antibody, T8/2T8-5H7, which clustered serologically with CD8 monoclonal antibodies, but lacked reactivity with L cell transfectants expressing the human CD8 molecule (Lyt-2 homologue). Based on these observations, we postulated that T8/2T8-5H7 might recognize the human Lyt-3 gene product. To test this hypothesis, we have isolated a full-length cDNA encoding the human Lyt-3 molecule and have characterized its product in additional transfection experiments. The results of these studies indicate that the human Lyt-3 cDNA encodes a product recognized by the antibody T8/2T8-5H7. Interestingly, the human Lyt-3 molecule cannot be expressed alone, but requires the human Lyt-2 homologue for efficient cell surface expression. A heterodimer composed of the human Lyt-2 and Lyt-3 molecules may have importance in T cell-target cell interactions.

Tolerance of engrafted donor T cells following bone marrow transplantation for severe combined immunodeficiency

Patients transplanted for the treatment of severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) frequently develop a unique state of split lymphoid chimerism. Such patients have T cells of donor origin, and non-T cells which are predominantly or exclusively of host origin. We have studied the reactivity of engrafted donor T cells to host and/or donor antigens in 12 patients transplanted for SCID, focusing on the characteristics of the tolerance to host and/or donor MHC antigens observed in nine of these patients who were recipients of T-cell-depleted, haploidentical parental bone marrow. In both proliferative and cytolytic assays, engrafted, donor-derived T cells were shown to be selectively nonreactive to histoincompatible host cells. This tolerance could not be ascribed to cells with suppressive activity in the engrafted T-cell population. T cells from a subset of patients, however, exhibited proliferative but not cytolytic reactivity to donor peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The responding cells were shown to be donor-derived CD3+ cells and were predominantly reactive to B-cell fractions from the donor. Two patients who received transplants from each parent in sequence engrafted T cells from one parent and had non-T cells of host, paternal, and maternal origin. The engrafted T cells proliferated weakly to B cells from the other parent, but were tolerant in cytolytic assays. Donor anti-donor reactivity was seen only in haploidentical split chimeras who had not been treated with cytotoxic drugs prior to T-cell engraftment. This proliferative reactivity toward donor may be due to an absence of donor derived Ia+ antigen presenting cells resident in the thymus of SCID patients at the time when the T-cell repertoire is being shaped.

Treatment of steroid-resistant acute graft-vs-host disease by in vivo administration of an anti-T-cell ricin A chain immunotoxin

The A chain of the toxin ricin has been conjugated by a disulfide bond to a murine monoclonal antibody that recognizes the CD5 (T,p67) antigen present on 95% of peripheral blood T lymphocytes. This immunotoxin was used to treat a patient with severe grade III-IV, steroid-resistant, acute graft-vs-host disease (GvHD) after an allogeneic, human leukocyte antigen-identical bone marrow transplant for acute myelogenous leukemia. Immunotoxin therapy produced a complete clinical response in the skin and gastrointestinal tract. The patient tolerated a 14-day course without symptoms or signs of toxic effects. After two days of therapy, circulating T cells could not be demonstrated by indirect immunofluorescence. After therapy, acute GvHD did not recur. However, seven months after therapy the patient demonstrated mild signs of chronic GvHD that were easily controlled with low-dose immunosuppressive therapy. These findings indicate that an anti-T-cell ricin A chain immunotoxin can be given safely for treatment of acute GvHD and may be an effective therapy for this significant posttransplant complication.

Autocytotoxic and autosuppressor T-cell lines generated from autologous lymphocyte cultures

Limiting dilution analyses have demonstrated both the generation and suppression of autocytotoxic cells following in vitro stimulation with autologous peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes (PBL). Therefore, in order to isolate and characterize the autocytotoxic lymphocytes, interleukin 2-dependent cell lines were derived from autologous mixed lymphocyte microcultures. The cell lines were screened for cytolytic activity against autologous phytohemagglutinin-activated lymphoblasts, autologous and allogeneic B-lymphoblastoid cell lines (B-LCL), and the natural killer target K562. Of 189 cell lines analyzed, 26 demonstrated cytotoxicity against autologous target cells. Cell surface phenotyping of all cell lines indicated that they were of T lymphocyte lineage. Two autocytotoxic T-cell clones were subsequently derived in similar fashion. Cell lines were also screened for autoregulatory activity. Two cells lines were identified that inhibited the generation of autocytotoxicity. Neither of the autoregulatory lines was capable of directly lysing an autocytotoxic line, suggesting that these autosuppressor cells exert their inhibitory effect by a mechanism other than direct lysis of the autocytotoxic effector cell. These findings indicate that through the application of limiting dilution analysis and in vitro cell culture techniques, autocytotoxic and autosuppressor lymphocyte populations can be isolated and utilized to analyze the cellular interactions involved in maintaining self-tolerance.

Graft rejection in recipients of T-cell-depleted HLA-nonidentical marrow transplants for leukemia. Identification of host-derived antidonor allocytotoxic T lymphocytes

Clinical trials with bone marrow depleted of donor T lymphocytes indicate that both the incidence and severity of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation (BMT) for treatment of leukemia are greatly reduced. However, there has been a concurrent increase in the incidence of graft rejection, particularly among recipients of HLA-nonidentical marrow grafts. In order to investigate the nature of graft failure, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) present at the time of graft failure have been characterized by phenotypic and functional analyses in 5 recipients of HLA-nonidentical marrow grafts. Rejection of HLA-nonidentical marrow grafts was associated with the emergence of host-derived T lymphocytes in all 5 patients. In 3 of these patients, the cells could be tested directly for cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Antidonor cytotoxicity was detected in each of these 3 patients. In one patient the target specificity of the cytotoxic lymphocytes was identified as the donor class I HLA antigen, HLA-B7. None of the patient PBMC mediated cytotoxicity against the natural killer cell target K562.

M241 (CD1) expression on B lymphocytes

The human thymus leukemia-like antigens (CD1a-c) consist of three similar glycoproteins found on subpopulations of normal thymocytes, T cell acute leukemias, and cutaneous dendritic cells. The CD1c antigen recognized by the M241 monoclonal antibody was detected on the circulating mononuclear cells of three children with severe combined immunodeficiency disease (SCID). Two-color immunofluorescence analysis demonstrated that M241 expression (43 to 95%) was limited to cells expressing the B cell-restricted antigens B4 (CD19), B1 (CD20), and surface immunoglobulin. To confirm M241 expression on normal cells of the B lineage rather than aberrant expression limited to SCID B cells, its expression was demonstrated serologically and biochemically on purified B cells from spleen, tonsil, and peripheral blood. Parallel analyses with monoclonal antibodies NA1/34 and 4A76 demonstrated that the CD1a and CD1b molecules were negative on all B cells that were studied. It has been hypothesized that the CD1 molecules represent the human counterpart of the murine thymus leukemia antigens due to their similar size, limited tissue distribution, and association with beta 2-microglobulin. This study suggests that a subset of CD1 antigens detected by M241 (CD1c) may represent a human analog of a murine Qa antigen due to its extended distribution on normal peripheral B cells.