L3T4 antigen expression by hemopoietic precursor cells

L3T4 (CD4) is expressed on immature hematopoietic cells. Sorting bone marrow cells on the basis of their expression of this antigen produces populations of cells that are markedly enriched for multipotential stem cells (CFU-s) and for myeloid precursors (CFU-c). We believe that L3T4 is transiently expressed by most, if not all, hematopoietic precursors early in their maturation. We suggest that the expression of CD4 molecules on the surface of immature precursors is required for their interaction with Ia bearing cells within the hemopoietic inductive microenvironment(s) of the marrow and thymus.