Human CD3+ T lymphocytes that express neither CD4 nor CD8 antigens.
CD3+ T lymphocytes expressing neither CD4 nor CD8 antigens exist in normal human peripheral blood in low frequency (approximately 3% of lymphocytes). The CD3+,4-,8- phenotype was stably maintained after in vitro culture in IL-2. Culture of CD3+,4-,8- cells in only rIL-2 generated cytotoxic T cells that lysed NK-sensitive and NK-insensitive tumor cell targets without MHC restriction. These experiments clearly show that phenotypically and functionally competent T cells expressing neither CD4 nor CD8 are present in normal peripheral blood.
D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007106:Immune Sera; D010641:Phenotype; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification* / Q000276:immunology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology
D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D007106:Immune Sera