Biomaterial Database

T cell receptor expression on immature thymocytes with in vivo and in vitro precursor potential. 1989

J Nikolic-Zugic, and M W Moore

Department of Immunology, Research Institute of Scripps Clinic, La Jolla, CA 92037.

Immature CD8-CD4- double-negative (DN) thymocytes differentiate intrathymically into CD8+CD4- and CD8-CD4+ thymocytes and migrate to the periphery. This differentiation proceeds through several intermediate phenotypic changes in the expression of CD8 and CD4. We have recently established the existence of a CD8loCD4lo cell population in murine thymus that can repopulate the irradiated thymus in vivo and differentiate rapidly in vitro to CD8+CD4+ double-positive (DP) cells. The CD8loCD4lo cells score as DN upon direct cytofluorometric analysis, yet are distinct from true DN cells by various criteria. Experimental evidence strongly suggests that they are descendants of true DN in the maturation pathway. In the experiments presented here, we further characterize this CD8loCD4lo thymocyte population. Northern blot and RNA protection analysis reveal that these cells transcribe full length mRNA for the T cell receptor (TcR)alpha chain, unlike the less mature interleukin 2 receptor-positive DN thymocytes. Surface expression of the TcR-associated CD3 molecule occurs on approximately 15% of these cells at low levels characteristic of immature cells. In the course of in vitro differentiation a vast majority (approximately 80%) of these cells convert to CD8+CD4+ and significant numbers of the brightly staining DP convertants (11%-34% on day 1 and 48%-68% on day 2) express immature levels of CD3. Our results indicate that CD8lo, CD4lo cells might be the first thymic subset to rearrange TcR alpha chain genes and express TcR alpha/beta heterodimer on the surface at levels characteristic of immature cells. Furthermore, the surface expression of TcR persists on the in vitro progeny of these thymocytes.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008815	Mice, Inbred Strains	Genetically identical individuals developed from brother and sister matings which have been carried out for twenty or more generations, or by parent x offspring matings carried out with certain restrictions. All animals within an inbred strain trace back to a common ancestor in the twentieth generation.	Inbred Mouse Strains,Inbred Strain of Mice,Inbred Strain of Mouse,Inbred Strains of Mice,Mouse, Inbred Strain,Inbred Mouse Strain,Mouse Inbred Strain,Mouse Inbred Strains,Mouse Strain, Inbred,Mouse Strains, Inbred,Strain, Inbred Mouse,Strains, Inbred Mouse
D011948	Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell	Molecules on the surface of T-lymphocytes that recognize and combine with antigens. The receptors are non-covalently associated with a complex of several polypeptides collectively called CD3 antigens (CD3 COMPLEX). Recognition of foreign antigen and the major histocompatibility complex is accomplished by a single heterodimeric antigen-receptor structure, composed of either alpha-beta (RECEPTORS, ANTIGEN, T-CELL, ALPHA-BETA) or gamma-delta (RECEPTORS, ANTIGEN, T-CELL, GAMMA-DELTA) chains.	Antigen Receptors, T-Cell,T-Cell Receptors,Receptors, T-Cell Antigen,T-Cell Antigen Receptor,T-Cell Receptor,Antigen Receptor, T-Cell,Antigen Receptors, T Cell,Receptor, T-Cell,Receptor, T-Cell Antigen,Receptors, T Cell Antigen,Receptors, T-Cell,T Cell Antigen Receptor,T Cell Receptor,T Cell Receptors,T-Cell Antigen Receptors
D005260	Female		Females
D006412	Hematopoietic Stem Cells	Progenitor cells from which all blood cells derived. They are found primarily in the bone marrow and also in small numbers in the peripheral blood.	Colony-Forming Units, Hematopoietic,Progenitor Cells, Hematopoietic,Stem Cells, Hematopoietic,Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells,Cell, Hematopoietic Progenitor,Cell, Hematopoietic Stem,Cells, Hematopoietic Progenitor,Cells, Hematopoietic Stem,Colony Forming Units, Hematopoietic,Colony-Forming Unit, Hematopoietic,Hematopoietic Colony-Forming Unit,Hematopoietic Colony-Forming Units,Hematopoietic Progenitor Cell,Hematopoietic Stem Cell,Progenitor Cell, Hematopoietic,Stem Cell, Hematopoietic,Unit, Hematopoietic Colony-Forming,Units, Hematopoietic Colony-Forming
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
D000945	Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte	Antigens expressed on the cell membrane of T-lymphocytes during differentiation, activation, and normal and neoplastic transformation. Their phenotypic characterization is important in differential diagnosis and studies of thymic ontogeny and T-cell function.	Antigens, Differentiation, T-Cell,Differentiation Antigens, T-Cell,L3T4 Antigens,Leu Antigens, T-Lymphocyte,T-Cell Differentiation Antigens,T-Lymphocyte Differentiation Antigens,T6 Antigens,Antigens, Differentiation, T Lymphocyte,Differentiation Antigens, T Lymphocyte,Antigens, L3T4,Antigens, T-Cell Differentiation,Antigens, T-Lymphocyte Differentiation,Antigens, T-Lymphocyte Leu,Antigens, T6,Differentiation Antigens, T Cell,Differentiation Antigens, T-Lymphocyte,Leu Antigens, T Lymphocyte,T Cell Differentiation Antigens,T Lymphocyte Differentiation Antigens,T-Lymphocyte Leu Antigens
D013601	T-Lymphocytes	Lymphocytes responsible for cell-mediated immunity. Two types have been identified - cytotoxic (T-LYMPHOCYTES, CYTOTOXIC) and helper T-lymphocytes (T-LYMPHOCYTES, HELPER-INDUCER). They are formed when lymphocytes circulate through the THYMUS GLAND and differentiate to thymocytes. When exposed to an antigen, they divide rapidly and produce large numbers of new T cells sensitized to that antigen.	T Cell,T Lymphocyte,T-Cells,Thymus-Dependent Lymphocytes,Cell, T,Cells, T,Lymphocyte, T,Lymphocyte, Thymus-Dependent,Lymphocytes, T,Lymphocytes, Thymus-Dependent,T Cells,T Lymphocytes,T-Cell,T-Lymphocyte,Thymus Dependent Lymphocytes,Thymus-Dependent Lymphocyte
D015704	CD4 Antigens	55-kDa antigens found on HELPER-INDUCER T-LYMPHOCYTES and on a variety of other immune cell types. They are members of the immunoglobulin supergene family and are implicated as associative recognition elements in MAJOR HISTOCOMPATIBILITY COMPLEX class II-restricted immune responses. On T-lymphocytes they define the helper/inducer subset. T4 antigens also serve as INTERLEUKIN-15 receptors and bind to the HIV receptors, binding directly to the HIV ENVELOPE PROTEIN GP120.	Antigens, CD4,CD4 Molecule,CD4 Receptor,CD4 Receptors,Receptors, CD4,T4 Antigens, T-Cell,CD4 Antigen,Receptors, Surface CD4,Surface CD4 Receptor,Antigen, CD4,Antigens, T-Cell T4,CD4 Receptor, Surface,CD4 Receptors, Surface,Receptor, CD4,Surface CD4 Receptors,T-Cell T4 Antigens,T4 Antigens, T Cell
D016827	CD8 Antigens	Differentiation antigens found on thymocytes and on cytotoxic and suppressor T-lymphocytes. T8 antigens are members of the immunoglobulin supergene family and are associative recognition elements in MHC (Major Histocompatibility Complex) Class I-restricted interactions.	Antigens, CD8,Leu-2 Antigens,T8 Antigens, T-Cell,CD8 Antigen,Antigen, CD8,Antigens, Leu-2,Antigens, T-Cell T8,Leu 2 Antigens,T-Cell T8 Antigens,T8 Antigens, T Cell
D017252	CD3 Complex	Complex of at least five membrane-bound polypeptides in mature T-lymphocytes that are non-covalently associated with one another and with the T-cell receptor (RECEPTORS, ANTIGEN, T-CELL). The CD3 complex includes the gamma, delta, epsilon, zeta, and eta chains (subunits). When antigen binds to the T-cell receptor, the CD3 complex transduces the activating signals to the cytoplasm of the T-cell. The CD3 gamma and delta chains (subunits) are separate from and not related to the gamma/delta chains of the T-cell receptor (RECEPTORS, ANTIGEN, T-CELL, GAMMA-DELTA).	Antigens, CD3,CD3 Antigens,T3 Antigens,CD3 Antigen,T3 Antigen,T3 Complex,Antigen, CD3,Antigen, T3,Antigens, T3