Nonspecific esterase as a marker for human T-lymphocytes sequential studies during states of transient blood lymphocyte redistribution.

Nonspecific esterase staining has proved to be a simple cytomorphologic method for the identification of blood T-lymphocytes (preferentially T subpopulation), especially suited for clinical application in states with suspected dysregulatory or proliferative disorders of the lymphocyte system. Our study establishes the normal range of esterase-defined human T-lymphocytes in circulating blood (700-2300/mm, n=50) and supports the clinical usefulness of this method by performing sequential studies in normal volunteers (n=13) during states of transient lymphocyte redistribution induced by hydrocortisone and epinephrine, respectively. Confirming earlier results obtained by using other lymphocyte subset markers, we show that T as well as non-T-lymphocytes are transiently cleared from circulation after hydrocortisone administration but that the T-cell lymphocytopenia is more pronounced (maximal decrease of 77% vs. 63%; p<0.05). Following epinephrine administration, the observed temporary lymphocytosis is based on a marked increase in esterase-negative lymphocytes (mean increment of 189%) with no significant change in esterase-positive lymphocytes. Our findings demonstrate a diverse functional behavior of esterase-defined human lymphocyte subpopulations and, as the results are in agreement with similar studies which had used immunologically defined subpopulations, they represent a further although indirect indication that esterase-positive lymphocytes correspond to T-cells. This easy method at hand, sizing of lymphocyte subpopulations following hydrocortisone and epinephrine administration may aid in the pathogenetic understanding of certain diseases with suspected lymphocyte maldistribution or dysregulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]