Different gamma delta T-cell receptors are expressed on thymocytes at different stages of development.
We have analyzed the structural diversity of the murine gamma delta T-cell receptor (TCR) heterodimer expressed on CD4- CD8- thymocyte populations and on TCR gamma delta-expressing hybridomas derived from thymocytes of fetal, newborn, and adult mice. We found that CD4- CD8- thymocytes derived from mice of different pre- and postnatal age preferentially express a gamma delta TCR encoded by different subsets of gamma and delta gene segments. This age-dependent differential expression of gamma delta TCR on thymocytes seems to be accomplished in part by a specific control of rearranged gamma genes operating at the level of transcription and/or RNA stability. We discuss the implications of these findings with respect to the recognition roles of the gamma delta TCR.
Ito
K
K
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge 02139.
Bonneville
M
M
Takagaki
Y
Y
Nakanishi
N
N
Kanagawa
O
O
Krecko
E G
EG
Tonegawa
S
S
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D006825:Hybridomas; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D012313:RNA / Q000032:analysis; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA