Biomaterial Database

Discordant expression of terminal transferase and T cell receptor beta chain in fetal and pediatric thymocytes. 1989

A Bonati, and G Cattoretti, and R Starcich

Istituto di Patologia Speciale Medica, University of Parma, Italy.

Human thymuses at different ages of development were analyzed for TdT+/beta F1+ double-stained cells. beta F1 is a mAb which recognizes a "hidden" framework determinant on the beta chain of the T cell receptor (TCR). We have found that TCR beta chains appear early during thymic ontogenesis and are detectable by 15 weeks of gestation in cells that are TdT-. Paradoxically, the immature CD2- large thymic blasts in late fetal development and in infants are TdT+ but beta chain negative. These data are compatible with the notion that TdT acts as somatic mutagen on TCR beta genes starting only after 20 weeks of gestation. The beta chain proteins which appear early during thymic ontogenesis might reflect expression of incompletely rearranged (DJ), unrearranged, or fully rearranged TCR beta genes in an early wave of thymocyte clonal (beta) diversification, that is, in contrast to later development, independent of TdT.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007963	Leukocytes, Mononuclear	Mature LYMPHOCYTES and MONOCYTES transported by the blood to the body's extravascular space. They are morphologically distinguishable from mature granulocytic leukocytes by their large, non-lobed nuclei and lack of coarse, heavily stained cytoplasmic granules.	Mononuclear Leukocyte,Mononuclear Leukocytes,PBMC Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells,Peripheral Blood Human Mononuclear Cells,Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell,Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells,Leukocyte, Mononuclear
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
D011971	Receptors, Immunologic	Cell surface molecules on cells of the immune system that specifically bind surface molecules or messenger molecules and trigger changes in the behavior of cells. Although these receptors were first identified in the immune system, many have important functions elsewhere.	Immunologic Receptors,Immunologic Receptor,Immunological Receptors,Receptor, Immunologic,Receptors, Immunological
D002454	Cell Differentiation	Progressive restriction of the developmental potential and increasing specialization of function that leads to the formation of specialized cells, tissues, and organs.	Differentiation, Cell,Cell Differentiations,Differentiations, Cell
D004253	DNA Nucleotidylexotransferase	A non-template-directed DNA polymerase normally found in vertebrate thymus and bone marrow. It catalyzes the elongation of oligo- or polydeoxynucleotide chains and is widely used as a tool in the differential diagnosis of acute leukemias in man. EC 2.7.7.31.	Terminal Addition Enzyme,Terminal Deoxyribonucleotidyltransferase,Deoxynucleotidyl Transferase,Deoxynucleotidyltransferase,Desoxynucleotidyl Transferase,Desoxynucleotidyltransferase,Tdt Antigen,Terminal Deoxynucleotidyl Transferase,Terminal Deoxyribonucleotidyl Transferase,Addition Enzyme, Terminal,Antigen, Tdt,Deoxynucleotidyl Transferase, Terminal,Deoxyribonucleotidyl Transferase, Terminal,Deoxyribonucleotidyltransferase, Terminal,Enzyme, Terminal Addition,Nucleotidylexotransferase, DNA,Transferase, Deoxynucleotidyl,Transferase, Desoxynucleotidyl,Transferase, Terminal Deoxynucleotidyl,Transferase, Terminal Deoxyribonucleotidyl
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000367	Age Factors	Age as a constituent element or influence contributing to the production of a result. It may be applicable to the cause or the effect of a circumstance. It is used with human or animal concepts but should be differentiated from AGING, a physiological process, and TIME FACTORS which refers only to the passage of time.	Age Reporting,Age Factor,Factor, Age,Factors, Age
D000911	Antibodies, Monoclonal	Antibodies produced by a single clone of cells.	Monoclonal Antibodies,Monoclonal Antibody,Antibody, Monoclonal
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
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