A New Method for Studying the Selective Adherence of Blood Lymphocytes

Methods. Cryostat sections of human retina were overlaid with blood lymphocytes from healthy subjects, and experimental conditions were sought by which preferential attachment of the cells occurred to blood vessel walls in the retinal sections. Adherent lymphocytes were identified by staining with methyl green-thionine, and transected blood vessels were identified by their structure and by staining of basement membranes with periodic acid-Schiff. The adherence of enriched preparations of CD4 (T-helper) and CD8 (T-cytotoxic) lymphocytes, of interleukin-2 (IL-2) -activated cells, and of lymphocytes from patients with ocular Behcet's disease was examined. The distribution of adhesion molecules on retinal vessel walls was determined by immunohistochemistry, and the contribution of leukocyte integrins to lymphocyte binding was studied by blocking experiments with monoclonal antibodies.