Derivation of human T-cell leukemias.

Cell surface antigenic changes occur during the stages of T-cell ontogeny in several animal model systems. In the present study, multiple monoclonal antibodies were developed to human thymocyte and T-cell surface differentiation antigens as a means of probing T-cell ontogeny in humans. It was shown that three distinct states of human intrathymic differentiation exist and that the mature inducer (T4+) and suppressor (T5+/TH2+)T-cell subsets arise at specific points during these maturation events. Moreover, T-cell leukemias can now be related to the three stages of the thymic compartment or, alternatively, the more differentiated peripheral T-cell compartment.