Human gammadelta T cells express a higher TCR/CD3 complex density than alphabeta T cells

The aim of our study was to compare CD3 expression on gammadelta T cells and alphabeta T cells in human patients. The antigen density of TCR and CD3 on both subsets was assessed by a quantitative method in eight patients. In parallel, we developed and validated a reliable direct tricolor staining pr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical immunology (Orlando, Fla.) Fla.), 2001-03, Vol.98 (3), p.358-363
Main Authors: Nicolas, L, Monneret, G, Debard, A L, Blesius, A, Gutowski, M C, Salles, G, Bienvenu, J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Animals
Female
Humans
Male
Mice
Middle Aged
Receptor-CD3 Complex, Antigen, T-Cell - analysis
Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta - analysis
Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta - analysis
Staining and Labeling
T-Lymphocytes - chemistry
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Summary:The aim of our study was to compare CD3 expression on gammadelta T cells and alphabeta T cells in human patients. The antigen density of TCR and CD3 on both subsets was assessed by a quantitative method in eight patients. In parallel, we developed and validated a reliable direct tricolor staining protocol that we tested on samples from hospitalized and healthy individuals (n = 60). Our results demonstrate that human gammadelta T cells constitutively express approximately twofold more of the TCR/CD3 complex than alphabeta T cells. We suggest that this enhanced expression of the TCR/CD3 complex could contribute to the higher reactivity of gammadelta T cells compared to alphabeta T cells. These clinical laboratory results confirm the fundamental data described elsewhere. gammadelta T cells deserve further clinical investigations to understand their precise role in human immunity.
ISSN:1521-6616