A new rat lymphocyte surface marker: characterization and separation of cells with receptors for Helix pomatia hemagglutinin.

Thirty-two percent of neuraminidase-treated DA rat spleen lymphocytes and 48% of lymph node lymphocytes possess receptors for Helix pomatia hemagglutinin (HP). Moreover, these HP-receptor-bearing cells can be separated from B cells by affinity chromatography on HP-Sepharose columns. The virtual absence of immunoglobulin (Ig) receptors and the close correlation with reported T-cell content of these lymphoid tissues suggest that HP-receptor lymphocytes are probably T cells and that HP may provide a convenient marker, for both the identification and the purification of rat T lymphocytes.