Maturation of CD4-8- alpha/beta TCR+ T cells induced by CD2-stimulation in vivo and in vitro.
Newly generated ('virgin') rat thymocytes of the immature CD4+8+ double positive (DP) subset were treated in suspension culture for 2 days with the stimulatory pair of anti-CD2 monoclonal antibodies OX-54 and OX-55. Approximately 50% of the recovered cells had downregulated CD4 and CD8 and upregulated the T cell antigen receptor (TCR). CD2-stimulated, but not control thymocytes proliferated in response to TCR plus IL-2 stimulation. In vivo, postnatal injection of OX-54/55 led to a dramatic and selective increase in functionally mature CD4-CD8- double negative (DN) alpha/beta--TCR(high) thymocytes and peripheral T cells. These findings show that CD2 stimulation can promote T cell differentiation and suggest that DN TCR(high) thymocytes can be generated from DP thymocytes via alternative pathways of T cell maturation.
Institute for Virology and Immunobiology, Würzburg, Germany.
G
G
Tiefenthaler
T
T
Hanke
T
T
Hünig
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D018801:CD2 Antigens; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D018801:CD2 Antigens; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic