[Receptors for lactoferrin on human thymic lymphocytes. The stimulation of expression as affected by adenosine, theophylline and a supernatant of thymic lymphocytes].

It was established by indirect immunofluorescence with the use of antibodies to human lactoferrin that thymic lymphocytes bear lactoferrin receptors in the point structures on the cell surface. The ability of thymic lymphocytes to express lactoferrin receptors depends on the cAMP concentration in the cell, inasmuch the treatment of lymphocytes with adenosine and theophylline increases the number of cells bearing lactoferrin receptors. Supernatant of thymic lymphocytes is also capable of stimulating expression of lactoferrin receptors. It is assumed that these treatments can be used for increasing the number of lymphocytes with lactoferrin receptors with the purpose of separation and study of the function of this subpopulation in health and in different pathological conditions.