Simultaneous detection of T6 and HLA-DR antigens distinguishes three cell subpopulations in dispersed normal human epidermal cells.

Normal human dendritic epidermal cells (EC) show specific surface membrane markers (T6 and DR antigens). This study presents evidence that, in dispersed EC suspensions, these membrane antigens may distinguish three antigen-positive EC subsets by means of double immunofluorescence labelling: 97.3 +/- 1.2% of the labelled cells were DR(+)/T6(+) while 2.2 +/- 0.9% were DR(+)/T6(-) and 0.5 +/- 0.6% were DR(-)/T6(+). Immunoelectron microscopy with gold particles confirms the co-existence of T6-positive and T6-negative epidermal cells.