Localization of alkaline phosphatase in lymphoid tissues of C57B1/6J mice during an immune response

• Main Author: Tisdale, Verlie Ann Graham
• Format: Others
• Published: DigitalCommons@Robert W. Woodruff Library, Atlanta University Center 1979
• Subjects: Biology
• Online Access: http://digitalcommons.auctr.edu/dissertations/577; http://digitalcommons.auctr.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2115&context=dissertations

The membrane-bound enzyme alkaline phosphatase has been biochemically characterized and associated with thymic lymphomas. This enzyme has been shown to be localized in the thymic dependent areas in the normal spleen of C57B1/6J mice. Since these cells undergo dedifferentiation in normal immune responses and alkaline phosphatase is associated with lymphoproliferative diseases, it was of interest to find the role of these alkaline phosphatase positive cells in normal immune responses. The C57B1/67 mice were treated with lipopolysaccharide, hydrocortisone, sheep red blood cells, and 4-ethoxymethylene-2-phenyl oxazolone. Alkaline phosphatase activity was histochemically localized in the spleen and lymph nodes. Lipopolysaccharide has been shown to be a B cell mitogen, hydrocortisone an immunosuppressant, sheep red blood cells an antigen, and 4-ethoxymethylene-2-phenyl oxazolone a T cell mitogen. Histochemical analysis revealed that following treatment by these substances, there was an increase in alkaline phosphatase positive cells. Like the normal spleen, these alkaline phosphatase positive cells were localized only in the thymic dependent areas of the spleen and lymph nodes. These data suggest that the enzyme alkaline phosphatase occurs during lymphoproliferation and may therefore be used as a lymphoblastic marker.