A CD3- subset of CD4-8+ thymocytes: a rapidly cycling intermediate in the generation of CD4+8+ cells

• Published in: European journal of immunology Vol. 18; no. 4; p. 519
• Main Authors: MacDonald, H R, Budd, R C, Howe, R C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany 01.04.1988
• Subjects: Animals; Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte - analysis; CD3 Complex; CD8 Antigens; Cell Cycle - drug effects; Cell Differentiation; Cortisone - pharmacology; Ethers - pharmacology; Flow Cytometry; Interleukin-2 - pharmacology; Ionomycin; Lymphocyte Activation; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell - analysis; T-Lymphocytes - classification; T-Lymphocytes - cytology; T-Lymphocytes - immunology; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate - pharmacology; Thymus Gland - cytology; Thymus Gland - immunology
• ISSN: 0014-2980
• DOI: 10.1002/eji.1830180405

T lymphocytes with the surface phenotype CD4+8- and CD4-8+ are considered to be representative of functionally mature cells. We show here that adult murine thymus contains a subpopulation of CD4-8+ cells that differ from CD4-8+ cells found in the periphery in that they do not express the T cell receptor-associated CD3 molecular complex. Such CD3-4-8+ thymocytes are cortisone sensitive and rapidly cycling in situ. Furthermore, in contrast to mature T cells, most CD3-4-8+ thymocytes express low levels of CD5 and high levels of the B2A2 antigen. CD3-4-8+ thymocytes fail to respond to a variety of mitogenic stimuli in vitro but do give rise upon short-term culture to CD4+8+ cells. It is suggested that CD3-4-8+ thymocytes represent a transitional stage of thymus differentiation between the CD4-8- and CD4+8+ compartments.