TY - JOUR
T1 - Clonal analysis of CD4-CD8- human thymocytes expressing a T cell receptor γ/δ chain. Direct evidence for the de novo expression of CD8 surface antigen and of cytolytic activity against tumor targets
AU - Mingari, M. C.
AU - Varese, P.
AU - Bottino, C.
AU - Melioli, G.
AU - Moretta, A.
AU - Moretta, L.
PY - 1988
Y1 - 1988
N2 - CD4-CD8- human thymocytes were obtained by treating total thymocyte suspensions with anti-CD4 and anti-CD8 monoclonal antibodies (mAb) and complement. The resulting cell populations contained virtually no CD4+, CD8+ or WT31+ cells and 17-65% CD3+ cells. In addition, analysis of cell reactivity with delta-TCS-1 mAb (specific for the C(γ)2-encoded, nondisulfide-linked form of TcR γ/δ), revealed the presence of a variable proportion of δ-TCS-1+ cells (the % of δ-TCS-1+ cells were lower than the percentage of CD3+ cells). Upon culture in recombinant interleukin 2 (IL 2, in the presence of irradiated mononuclear cells), CD4-CD8- thymocytes underwent extensive proliferation. In addition, a progressive increase of CD8+ cells (but not of CD4+ or WT31+ cells) could be detected. Cells also progressively acquired cytolytic activity against K-562 or fresh melanoma cells. Fresh CD4-CD8- thymocytes were cloned under limiting dilution conditions. The cloning efficiencies were relatively high (1/3 cells); in addition, virtually all the clonal progenies obtained displayed cytolytic activity and expressed the CD3+WT31-δ-TCS-1+ surface phenotype. About half of the clones analyzed were CD8+, whereas none expressed CD4 antigens. We conclude that (a) only δ-TCS-1-reactive, TcR γ/δ+ cells can be isolated from CD4-CD8- thymocytes cultured in IL 2, and (b) the expression of CD8 antigen and of cytolytic activity reflects a true in vitro phenotypic change of CD8-, noncytolytic precursors (and not the preferential growth of few contaminating cells).
AB - CD4-CD8- human thymocytes were obtained by treating total thymocyte suspensions with anti-CD4 and anti-CD8 monoclonal antibodies (mAb) and complement. The resulting cell populations contained virtually no CD4+, CD8+ or WT31+ cells and 17-65% CD3+ cells. In addition, analysis of cell reactivity with delta-TCS-1 mAb (specific for the C(γ)2-encoded, nondisulfide-linked form of TcR γ/δ), revealed the presence of a variable proportion of δ-TCS-1+ cells (the % of δ-TCS-1+ cells were lower than the percentage of CD3+ cells). Upon culture in recombinant interleukin 2 (IL 2, in the presence of irradiated mononuclear cells), CD4-CD8- thymocytes underwent extensive proliferation. In addition, a progressive increase of CD8+ cells (but not of CD4+ or WT31+ cells) could be detected. Cells also progressively acquired cytolytic activity against K-562 or fresh melanoma cells. Fresh CD4-CD8- thymocytes were cloned under limiting dilution conditions. The cloning efficiencies were relatively high (1/3 cells); in addition, virtually all the clonal progenies obtained displayed cytolytic activity and expressed the CD3+WT31-δ-TCS-1+ surface phenotype. About half of the clones analyzed were CD8+, whereas none expressed CD4 antigens. We conclude that (a) only δ-TCS-1-reactive, TcR γ/δ+ cells can be isolated from CD4-CD8- thymocytes cultured in IL 2, and (b) the expression of CD8 antigen and of cytolytic activity reflects a true in vitro phenotypic change of CD8-, noncytolytic precursors (and not the preferential growth of few contaminating cells).
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M3 - Article
C2 - 2974427
AN - SCOPUS:0024213065
VL - 18
SP - 1831
EP - 1834
JO - European Journal of Immunology
JF - European Journal of Immunology
SN - 0014-2980
IS - 11
ER -