Characterization of Immature Thymocyte Lines Derived from T-Cell Receptor or Recombination Activating Gene 1 and p53 Double Mutant Mice

• Published in: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS 1995-08, Vol.92 (16), p.7420-7424
• Main Authors: Mombaerts, Peter, Terhorst, Cox, Jacks, Tyler, Tonegawa, Susumu, Sancho, Jaime
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Antibodies; Biochemistry; CD3 Complex - genetics; CD3 Complex - metabolism; CD4 Antigens - metabolism; CD8 Antigens - metabolism; Cell Differentiation; Cell Line; Cell lines; Cellular immunity; Genes, p53; Genetic mutation; Homeodomain Proteins; Immunity (Disease); Lymphoma; Lymphoma - genetics; Lymphoma - immunology; Lymphoma - pathology; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Mutant Strains; Mutation; Proteins - genetics; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta - genetics; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta - metabolism; Rodents; T cell antigen receptors; T lymphocytes; T-Lymphocytes - cytology; T-Lymphocytes - immunology; Thymocytes; Thymus Neoplasms - genetics; Thymus Neoplasms - immunology; Thymus Neoplasms - pathology; Transformed cell line; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Western blotting
• ISSN: 0027-8424; 1091-6490
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.92.16.7420

The T-cell receptor (TCR) β chain is instrumental in the progression of thymocyte differentiation from the CD4-CD8-to the CD4+CD8+stage. This differentiation step may involve cell surface expression of novel CD3-TCR complexes. To facilitate biochemical characterization of these complexes, we established cell lines from thymic lymphomas originating from mice carrying a mutation in the p53 gene on the one hand and a mutation in TCR-α, TCR-β, or the recombination activating gene 1 (RAG-1) on the other hand. The cell lines were CD4+CD8+and appeared to be monoclonal. A cell line derived from a RAG-1 x p53 double mutant thymic lymphoma expressed low levels of CD3-ε, -γ, and -δ on the surface. TCR-α x p53 double mutant cell lines were found to express complexes consisting of TCR-β chains associated with CD3-ε, -γ, and -δ chains and CD3-ζζ dimers. These cell lines will be useful tools to study the molecular structure and signal transducing properties of partial CD3-TCR complexes expressed on the surface of immature thymocytes.