Rosette formation between T and autologous B lymphocytes. I. Characterization of a T cell subpopulation.

The ability of some T cells to form rosettes with autologous B lymphocytes (TrB cells) appears to be a marker of a subpopulation of T cells, a majority of which have high avidity receptors for sheep red blood cells. TrB cells have a higher proportion of suppressor cell surface markers (OKT-8+ and receptor for the Fc fraction of IgG), as well as higher suppressor activity than other T cell populations. TrB cells also help in B lymphocyte transformation under the stimulation of a T-dependent B mitogen. The TrB cells seem to express the Fc gamma receptor after ecotatic association with B cells, since T gamma cells previously isolated from total T cells form rosettes with B cells in the same proportion in which total T cells do. Studies on TrB cells subpopulation may explain some of the defects in functional cell-cell interactions.