INTERMEDIATE STEPS IN POSITIVE SELECTION - DIFFERENTIATION OF CD4+8(INT) TCR(INT) THYMOCYTES INTO CD4-8+TCR(HI) THYMOCYTES

LUNDBERG, K; Heath, W; Kontgen, F; Carbone, FR; Shortman, K

Author(s): LUNDBERG, K; Heath, W; Kontgen, F; Carbone, FR; Shortman, K;
Details: Publication Year 1995-05-01,Volume 181,Issue #5,Page 1643-1651
Journal Title: JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE
Publication Type: Journal Article
Abstract: The differentiation potential of putative intermediates between CD4(+)8(+) thymocytes and mature T cells has been examined. Such intermediate populations were sorted, in parallel with CD4(+)8(+) thymocytes, from three types of C57BL/6 mice: major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II-deficient mice, mice transgenic for an alpha/beta T cell receptor (TCR) restricted by class I MHC and normal mice. The sorted populations were then transferred into the thymus of nonirradiated C57BL/Ka mice differing in Thy 1 allotype, and the progeny of the transferred cells were analyzed 2 d later. Surprisingly, with all three types of donor mice, a major proportion of the CD4(+)8(int)TCR(int)-derived progeny were found to be CD4(-)8(+)TCR(hi) cells, thus delineating a new alternative pathway for development of the CD8 lineage. In contrast, the transfer of CD4(int)8(+)TCR(int) thymocytes produced CD4(-)8(+)TCR(hi) cells but no significant proportion of CD4(+)8(-)TCR(hi) cells, suggesting that there is no equivalent alternative pathway for the CD4 lineage. The results negate some of the evidence for a stochastic/selective model of lineage commitment, and point to an asymmetry in the steps leading to CD4(-)8(+) versus CD4(+)8(-) T cells.
Publisher: ROCKEFELLER UNIV PRESS
Keywords: T-CELLS; MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODIES; CD8 LINEAGES; COMMITMENT; ANTIGENS; MICE; INSTRUCTION; REPERTOIRE; COMPLEX; MODEL
Publisher's Version: https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.181.5.1643
Terms of Use/Rights Notice: Refer to copyright notice on published article.

Creation Date: 1995-05-01 12:00:00