Characterization of murine thymocytes with CD3-associated T-cell receptor structures

The thymus is the major site for T-cell receptor (TCR) gene rearrangement and T-cell maturation. The specific antigen recognition structure (TCR) on murine T cells has been shown to be dependent on a polymorphic set of disulphide-linked heterodimers, containing two integral membrane glycoprotein cha...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nature (London) 1987-03, Vol.326 (6108), p.82-84
Main Authors: BLUESTONE, J. A, PARDOLL, D, SHARROW, S. O, FOWLKES, B. J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Antibodies, Monoclonal - immunology
Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte
Antigens, Surface - analysis
Antigens, Surface - immunology
Biological and medical sciences
Cell Line
Cellular biology
Cytotoxicity, Immunologic
Endocrine system
Fetuses
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Fundamental immunology
gene expression
General aspects. Ontogeny. Phylogeny
Immunity (Disease)
Immunobiology
Lymphocyte Activation
Mice
receptors
Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell - analysis
Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell - immunology
T-Lymphocytes - immunology
thymocytes
Thymus Gland - cytology
Thymus Gland - embryology
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Summary:The thymus is the major site for T-cell receptor (TCR) gene rearrangement and T-cell maturation. The specific antigen recognition structure (TCR) on murine T cells has been shown to be dependent on a polymorphic set of disulphide-linked heterodimers, containing two integral membrane glycoprotein chains, TCR alpha and TCR beta, expressed in non-covalent association with an invariant complex of proteins, CD3 (T3). Recently, a novel TCR/CD3 complex, that includes the product of the TCR gamma gene, has been identified on a subset of both peripheral cells and thymocytes. Here we examine the expression of TCR/CD3 complexes in fetal ontogeny and in the adult thymus. The results demonstrate that CD3+4-8-(T3+,L3T4-,Lyt2-)cells are detected in day-15 fetal thymi, throughout fetal development and in adult thymus. In situ hybridization studies indicate that these early CD3+ cells express high levels of TCR gamma-specific RNA, low levels of TCR beta-specific RNA and no detectable TCR alpha-specific RNA. Day-16 CD3+,4-,8- fetal thymocytes can be activated to proliferate and demonstrate cytolytic activity when cultured in the presence of anti-CD3 monoclonal antibodies and interleukin-2 (IL-2). These results suggest that CD3-bearing cells, present early in thymic ontogeny, express a functional TCR and may, therefore, be important in repertoire development.
ISSN:0028-0836
1476-4687
DOI:10.1038/326082a0