The majority of mouse spontaneous rosette-forming cells of thymic origin belong to the Ly-2+ subset.
Spontaneous sheep erythrocyte rosette-forming T cells (T-sRFC) found in normal mouse spleen are specific for the xenogeneic species of red cells and are distinct from human E rosettes as illustrated by their persistence after sheep red blood cell (SRBC) incubation with anti-LFA-3 monoclonal antibodies directed against SRBC molecule binding to the E rosette receptor. We confirm here using monoclonal antibodies that T-sRFC are Thy-1+CD3+. Additionally, using cell separation techniques based on panning and cell sorting, it is shown that the vast majority of spleen sRFC have the L3T4-Ly-2+ phenotype. As already shown for anti-Thy-1 antibodies, anti-CD3 and anti-Ly-2 antibodies block rosette formation, whereas antibodies to more abundant cell surface antigens (T200, H-2Db) are not inhibitory. These data suggest that the interaction of T-sRFC with SRBC occurs at or near the T cell receptor.
Lepault
F
F
INSERM U 25-CNRS UA 122, Hôpital Necker, Paris, France.
Fache
M P
MP
Gagnerault
M C
MC
Bach
J F
JF
Dardenne
M
M
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000937:Antigen-Antibody Reactions; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology; D000950:Antigens, Ly / Q000276:immunology*; D017252:CD3 Complex; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology*; D012397:Rosette Formation; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000950:Antigens, Ly; D017252:CD3 Complex; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell