Abstract
Purified CD3-4- thymocytes were obtained by depletion of CD3+ and CD4+ cells from fresh thymocyte suspensions. 5-15% of these cells were found to express CD16 antigen, while other natural killer (NK) cell markers were virtually absent. Double fluorescence analysis revealed that 20-40% of thymic CD16+ cells coexpressed CD1, while approximately half were cyCD3+. When cultured in the presence of peripheral blood lymphocytes and H9 leukemia cell line as a source of irradiated feeder cells and interleukin 2 (IL-2), CD3-4- thymocytes underwent extensive proliferation. In addition, after 1-2 wk of culture, 30-50% of these cells were found to express CD16 surface antigen. Cloning under limiting dilution conditions of either CD3-4- or CD3-4-16- thymocytes in the presence of irradiated H9 cells resulted in large proportions (∼50%) of CD16+ clones. On the basis of the expression of surface CD16 and/or cyCD3 antigen, clones could be grouped in the following subsets: CD16+ cyCD3+ ; CD16+ cyCD3+; CD16-cyCD3+ ; and CD16-cyCD3-. All clones expressed CD56 surface antigen, displayed a strong cytolytic activity against NK sensitive (K562) and NK-resistant (M14) target cells, and produced IFN-γ and tumor necrosis factor, but not IL-2. Similar to peripheral NK cells, thymic CD16+ cells expressed transcripts for CD16 and for CD3 ε (Biassoni, R., S. Ferrini, I. Prigione, A. Moretta, and E.O. Long. 1988. J. Im̀munol 140:1685.) and ζ chains (Anderson, P., M. Caligiuri, J. Ritz, and S.F. Schlossman. 1989. Nature [Land.]. 341:159). Therefore, it appears that cells that are phenotypically and functionally similar to CD3- CD16+ NK cells may arise from immature thymocytes.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 21-26 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Journal of Experimental Medicine |
| Volume | 174 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Publication status | Published - 1991 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Immunology
Cite this
In vitro proliferation and cloning of CD3-CD161 cells from human thymocyte precursors. / Mingari, Maria Cristina; Poggi, Alessandro; Biassoni, Roberto; Bellomo, Rosanna; Ciccone, Ermanno; Pella, Nicoletta; Morelli, Luigia; Verdiani, Simonetta; Moretta, Alessandro; Moretta, Lorenzo.
In: Journal of Experimental Medicine, Vol. 174, No. 1, 1991, p. 21-26.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - In vitro proliferation and cloning of CD3-CD161 cells from human thymocyte precursors
AU - Mingari, Maria Cristina
AU - Poggi, Alessandro
AU - Biassoni, Roberto
AU - Bellomo, Rosanna
AU - Ciccone, Ermanno
AU - Pella, Nicoletta
AU - Morelli, Luigia
AU - Verdiani, Simonetta
AU - Moretta, Alessandro
AU - Moretta, Lorenzo
PY - 1991
Y1 - 1991
N2 - Purified CD3-4- thymocytes were obtained by depletion of CD3+ and CD4+ cells from fresh thymocyte suspensions. 5-15% of these cells were found to express CD16 antigen, while other natural killer (NK) cell markers were virtually absent. Double fluorescence analysis revealed that 20-40% of thymic CD16+ cells coexpressed CD1, while approximately half were cyCD3+. When cultured in the presence of peripheral blood lymphocytes and H9 leukemia cell line as a source of irradiated feeder cells and interleukin 2 (IL-2), CD3-4- thymocytes underwent extensive proliferation. In addition, after 1-2 wk of culture, 30-50% of these cells were found to express CD16 surface antigen. Cloning under limiting dilution conditions of either CD3-4- or CD3-4-16- thymocytes in the presence of irradiated H9 cells resulted in large proportions (∼50%) of CD16+ clones. On the basis of the expression of surface CD16 and/or cyCD3 antigen, clones could be grouped in the following subsets: CD16+ cyCD3+ ; CD16+ cyCD3+; CD16-cyCD3+ ; and CD16-cyCD3-. All clones expressed CD56 surface antigen, displayed a strong cytolytic activity against NK sensitive (K562) and NK-resistant (M14) target cells, and produced IFN-γ and tumor necrosis factor, but not IL-2. Similar to peripheral NK cells, thymic CD16+ cells expressed transcripts for CD16 and for CD3 ε (Biassoni, R., S. Ferrini, I. Prigione, A. Moretta, and E.O. Long. 1988. J. Im̀munol 140:1685.) and ζ chains (Anderson, P., M. Caligiuri, J. Ritz, and S.F. Schlossman. 1989. Nature [Land.]. 341:159). Therefore, it appears that cells that are phenotypically and functionally similar to CD3- CD16+ NK cells may arise from immature thymocytes.
AB - Purified CD3-4- thymocytes were obtained by depletion of CD3+ and CD4+ cells from fresh thymocyte suspensions. 5-15% of these cells were found to express CD16 antigen, while other natural killer (NK) cell markers were virtually absent. Double fluorescence analysis revealed that 20-40% of thymic CD16+ cells coexpressed CD1, while approximately half were cyCD3+. When cultured in the presence of peripheral blood lymphocytes and H9 leukemia cell line as a source of irradiated feeder cells and interleukin 2 (IL-2), CD3-4- thymocytes underwent extensive proliferation. In addition, after 1-2 wk of culture, 30-50% of these cells were found to express CD16 surface antigen. Cloning under limiting dilution conditions of either CD3-4- or CD3-4-16- thymocytes in the presence of irradiated H9 cells resulted in large proportions (∼50%) of CD16+ clones. On the basis of the expression of surface CD16 and/or cyCD3 antigen, clones could be grouped in the following subsets: CD16+ cyCD3+ ; CD16+ cyCD3+; CD16-cyCD3+ ; and CD16-cyCD3-. All clones expressed CD56 surface antigen, displayed a strong cytolytic activity against NK sensitive (K562) and NK-resistant (M14) target cells, and produced IFN-γ and tumor necrosis factor, but not IL-2. Similar to peripheral NK cells, thymic CD16+ cells expressed transcripts for CD16 and for CD3 ε (Biassoni, R., S. Ferrini, I. Prigione, A. Moretta, and E.O. Long. 1988. J. Im̀munol 140:1685.) and ζ chains (Anderson, P., M. Caligiuri, J. Ritz, and S.F. Schlossman. 1989. Nature [Land.]. 341:159). Therefore, it appears that cells that are phenotypically and functionally similar to CD3- CD16+ NK cells may arise from immature thymocytes.
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M3 - Article
C2 - 1711562
AN - SCOPUS:0025732913
VL - 174
SP - 21
EP - 26
JO - Journal of Experimental Medicine
JF - Journal of Experimental Medicine
SN - 0022-1007
IS - 1
ER -