RE: CD4/CD8

From: gerhard nebe-von-caron (Gerhard.Nebe-von-Caron@Unilever.com)
Date: Mon Aug 14 2000 - 20:00:37 EST


Two questions on the subject below:

Isn't there also some effect on shedding cd8 chains under certain
circumstances? Also, with most people not having as many channels available as
Mario, are there any CD3+ cd45- cells or would cd3 versus 8 and 4 be sufficient
to define the subpopulations?

Thanks
Gerhard

-----Original Message-----
From:	Mario Roederer [SMTP:Roederer@drmr.com]
Sent:	Wednesday, August 09, 2000 6:03 PM
To:	Cytometry Mailing List
Subject:	Re: CD4/CD8


>We are using a 4-color mix of CD45/CD3/CD4/CD8 to determine T cell subset
>ratios. However our CD4 + CD8 percentages (gated on the CD45+ CD3+ cells)
>do not add up to 100%. Has anyone else had these problems or have any
>suggestions? Help would be appreciated - thanks!
>Lisa Whyte

Lisa,

Sure, there are at least (generally) 10% of CD3+ cells that are
double negative (CD4-CD8-), and there is a small percentage that are
double positive (CD4+CD8+).  You should always calculate percentages
by gating on CD3+CD45+, and then viewing a 2-parameter plot of CD4
vs. CD8.  The CD4 T cells are CD4+CD8-, and the CD8 T cells are
CD4-CD8+.  If you have a good CD8 stain, then you can also pick out
two more distinct lineages (functionally distinct, too!) that are
CD8-dull and either CD4+ or CD4-.  Note that for most cases, a
majority of CD4+CD8+ (bright CD8, that is) cells are actually dead
cells that are nonspecifically binding antibody.

Note that depending on the individual and on how you gate on CD3, you
may be including gamma-delta T cells or not.  gd T cells are
typically brighter on CD3 than alpha-beta T cells, and in many in
individuals comprise a second hump above the T cells.  gd T cells are
either CD8+ or CD8- (and a few can be CD4+).

mr



This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Sat Mar 10 2001 - 19:31:29 EST