CD4+CD8+CD3high thymocytes appear transiently during ontogeny: evidence from phenotypic and functional studies.
During T cell development thymocyte subsets emerge in a defined order, reflective of their maturational stage. In this study we determined the timing of appearance of CD4+CD8+CD3high thymocytes during in vivo and in vitro embryonic development, and thymic reconstitution after cortisone treatment. In these models, CD4+CD8+CD3high cells followed CD4+CD8+CD3low and preceded mature CD4+CD8-CD3high/CD4-CD8+CD3high thymocytes, while cortisone resistance was first seen among CD4+CD8+CD3high cells. CD4+CD8+CD3high thymocytes were also shown to display a pattern of antigen receptor-mediated calcium influx intermediate between that induced in other CD4+CD8+ cells and mature thymocytes. These results are consistent with a precursor-progeny relationship between CD4+CD8+CD3low and CD4+CD8+CD3high thymocytes, the latter developing to mature thymocytes (Hugo, P. et al., Int. Immunol. 1991. 3: 265).
Hugo
P
P
Department of Pathology and Immunology, Monash Medical School, Parkville.
Boyd
R L
RL
Waanders
G A
GA
Scollay
R
R
D000818:Animals; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology; D017252:CD3 Complex; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D003348:Cortisone / Q000494:pharmacology; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005865:Gestational Age; D051379:Mice; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D011940:Receptor Aggregation; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology*
D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D017252:CD3 Complex; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D002118:Calcium; D003348:Cortisone