Biomaterial Database

Cytokine production by mature and immature CD4-CD8- T cells. Alpha beta-T cell receptor+ CD4-CD8- T cells produce IL-4. 1992

A Zlotnik, and D I Godfrey, and M Fischer, and T Suda

DNAX Research Institute, Palo Alto, CA 94304.

This study follows our previous investigation describing the production of four cytokines (IL-2, IL-4, IFN-gamma, and TNF-alpha) by subsets of thymocytes defined by the expression of CD3, 4, 8, and 25. Here we investigate in greater detail subpopulations of CD4-CD8- double negative (DN) thymocytes. First we divided immature CD25-CD4-CD8-CD3- (CD25- triple negative) (TN) thymocytes into CD44+ and CD44- subsets. The CD44+ population includes very immature precursor T cells and produced high titers of IL-2, TNF-alpha, and IFN-gamma upon activation with calcium ionophore and phorbol ester. In contrast, the CD44- subset of CD25- TN thymocytes did not produce any of the cytokines studied under similar activation conditions. This observation indicates that the latter subset, which differentiates spontaneously in vitro into CD4+CD8+, already resembles CD4+CD8+ thymocytes (which do not produce any of the tested cytokines). We also subdivided the more mature CD3+ DN thymocytes into TCR-alpha beta- and TCR-gamma delta-bearing subsets. These cells produced cytokines upon activation with solid phase anti-CD3 mAb. gamma delta TCR+ DN thymocytes produced IL-2, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha, whereas alpha beta TCR+ DN thymocytes produced IL-4, IFN-gamma, and TNF-alpha but not IL-2. We then studied alpha beta TCR+ DN T cells isolated from the spleen and found a similar cytokine production profile. Furthermore, splenic alpha beta TCR+ DN cells showed a TCR V beta gene expression profile reminiscent of alpha beta TCR+ DN thymocytes (predominant use of V beta 8.2). These observations suggest that at least some alpha beta TCR+ DN splenocytes are derived from alpha beta TCR+ DN thymocytes and also raises the possibility that these cells may play a role in the development of Th2 responses through their production of IL-4.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008807	Mice, Inbred BALB C	An inbred strain of mouse that is widely used in IMMUNOLOGY studies and cancer research.	BALB C Mice, Inbred,BALB C Mouse, Inbred,Inbred BALB C Mice,Inbred BALB C Mouse,Mice, BALB C,Mouse, BALB C,Mouse, Inbred BALB C,BALB C Mice,BALB C Mouse
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013154	Spleen	An encapsulated lymphatic organ through which venous blood filters.
D013950	Thymus Gland	A single, unpaired primary lymphoid organ situated in the MEDIASTINUM, extending superiorly into the neck to the lower edge of the THYROID GLAND and inferiorly to the fourth costal cartilage. It is necessary for normal development of immunologic function early in life. By puberty, it begins to involute and much of the tissue is replaced by fat.	Thymus,Gland, Thymus,Glands, Thymus,Thymus Glands
D015375	Receptors, Interleukin-2	Receptors present on activated T-LYMPHOCYTES and B-LYMPHOCYTES that are specific for INTERLEUKIN-2 and play an important role in LYMPHOCYTE ACTIVATION. They are heterotrimeric proteins consisting of the INTERLEUKIN-2 RECEPTOR ALPHA SUBUNIT, the INTERLEUKIN-2 RECEPTOR BETA SUBUNIT, and the INTERLEUKIN RECEPTOR COMMON GAMMA-CHAIN.	IL-2 Receptors,Interleukin-2 Receptor,Interleukin-2 Receptors,Receptors, IL-2,Receptors, T-Cell Growth Factor,T-Cell Growth Factor Receptors,IL-2 Receptor,IL2 Receptor,IL2 Receptors,Interleukin 2 Receptor,Receptor, TCGF,T-Cell Growth Factor Receptor,TCGF Receptor,TCGF Receptors,IL 2 Receptor,IL 2 Receptors,Interleukin 2 Receptors,Receptor, IL-2,Receptor, IL2,Receptor, Interleukin 2,Receptor, Interleukin-2,Receptors, IL 2,Receptors, IL2,Receptors, Interleukin 2,Receptors, T Cell Growth Factor,Receptors, TCGF,T Cell Growth Factor Receptor,T Cell Growth Factor Receptors
D015847	Interleukin-4	A soluble factor produced by activated T-LYMPHOCYTES that induces the expression of MHC CLASS II GENES and FC RECEPTORS on B-LYMPHOCYTES and causes their proliferation and differentiation. It also acts on T-lymphocytes, MAST CELLS, and several other hematopoietic lineage cells.	B-Cell Growth Factor-I,B-Cell Stimulatory Factor-1,Binetrakin,IL-4,Mast Cell Growth Factor-2,B Cell Stimulatory Factor-1,B-Cell Growth Factor-1,B-Cell Proliferating Factor,B-Cell Stimulating Factor-1,B-Cell Stimulatory Factor 1,BCGF-1,BSF-1,IL4,MCGF-2,B Cell Growth Factor 1,B Cell Growth Factor I,B Cell Proliferating Factor,B Cell Stimulating Factor 1,B Cell Stimulatory Factor 1,Interleukin 4,Mast Cell Growth Factor 2
D015870	Gene Expression	The phenotypic manifestation of a gene or genes by the processes of GENETIC TRANSCRIPTION and GENETIC TRANSLATION.	Expression, Gene,Expressions, Gene,Gene Expressions
D016176	T-Lymphocyte Subsets	A classification of T-lymphocytes, especially into helper/inducer, suppressor/effector, and cytotoxic subsets, based on structurally or functionally different populations of cells.	T-Cell Subset,T-Cell Subsets,T-Lymphocyte Subset,Subset, T-Cell,Subset, T-Lymphocyte,Subsets, T-Cell,Subsets, T-Lymphocyte,T Cell Subset,T Cell Subsets,T Lymphocyte Subset,T Lymphocyte Subsets
D016201	Receptors, Lymphocyte Homing	Cell surface glycoproteins on lymphocytes and other leukocytes that mediate adhesion to specialized blood vessels called high endothelial venules. Several different classes of lymphocyte homing receptors have been identified, and they appear to target different surface molecules (addressins) on high endothelial venules in different tissues. The adhesion plays a crucial role in the trafficking of lymphocytes.	Hermes Antigen Family,Homing Receptors, T-Cell,Lymphocyte Homing Receptors,Homing Receptor, Lymph Node,Lymph Node Homing Receptor,Receptor, Lymph Node Homing,Antigen Family, Hermes,Homing Receptors, Lymphocyte,Homing Receptors, T Cell,Receptors, T-Cell Homing,T-Cell Homing Receptors