Cell surface antigen phenotypes and enzyme expression patterns of two murine T-cell lymphomas derived from early and/or mature thymus cells

A number of cell surface markers (T200, ThB, Thy1, Lyt1 and Lyt2 and a glycolipid) and enzymes (ATP-ase, acid phosphatase, beta-glucuronidase, 5'-nucleotidase, non-specific esterase, ANAE and chloroacetate esterase) were determined for two murine T-cell lymphomas: the DBA/2-strain-derived SL2 with a phenotype close to that of a mature thymocyte and the GRS-strain-derived GSRL13 with a phenotype of a more primitive thymocyte. While the pattern of expression of the enzymes was similar for SL2 and GRSL13 and as such indistinguishable from that of the majority of thymus cells, the pattern of cell surface antigen expression was clearly different. GRSL12 cells express the ThB antigen and a glycolipid antigen detectable with monoclonal antibody 30-H11, but not Lyt1 and Lyt2 antigens. SL2 cells, however, do not express ThB and the glycolipid antigen, but do express Lyt1 and Lyt2.