Separation of human lymphoid cells by preparative cell electrophoresis. III. Studies on cells of lymphoid organs in hematological normal persons.

Blood and bone marrow lymphocytes and cells of lymphoid organs in hematologically normal persons have been studied using free-flow electrophoresis by which a preparative separation of cells according to their electrophoretic mobility is achieved. The results are demonstrated as electrophoretic distributions. Blood lymphocytes have a peak corresponding to relative high electrophoretic mobility, whereas the majority of marrow lymphocytes is found in fractions corresponding to low electrophoretic mobility. The distributions of small lymphocytes from tonsil, spleen and lymphnode either resemble the distribution of blood lymphocytes or have a bimodal fashion with peaks corresponding to blood lymphocytes or marrow lymphocytes. Large lymphoid cells capable of DNA synthesis are concentrated in fractions of intermediate mobility. The results confirm the concept that peripheral T cells have a high electrophoretic mobility whereas most B cells are of low mobility. In contrast to peripheral T cells, cells of the thymus have an intermediate or low electrophoretic mobility. Thus, it appears that in the lymphoid cell system differences in the electrophoretic mobility not only reflect different functional properties but also differences in maturation stages.