Pulmonary Lymphocyte Subpopulations

This study characterized pulmonary lymphocyte subpopulations, their intercompartmental distribution, and the possible influence of aging in 2 unimmunized, inbred mouse strains, control strain C57BL/6 and New Zealand black/white F1 hybrid, an autoimmune strain. We obtained cells from bronchoalveolar air spaces by lavage, from lung interstitium by mincing, and from peripheral blood of 3- and 6-month-old female mice. Thymus-dependent and bone marrow-derived lymphocytes were quantified by anti-theta cytotoxic and surface immunoglobulin assays. Total cell yields and differential cell counts from each operationally defined lung-blood compartment were unique and were generally constant with increasing age and within strains. Although thymus-dependent and bone marrow-derived cells were identified in all compartments, thymus-dependent cells were the predominant or greater subset in most of the tissues examined. Null cells constituted a significant proportion (> 20 per cent) in all lung compartments. Aging was asso...