Phenotypic and functional characterization of human T lymphocytes expressing a gamma/delta T cell antigen receptor.
Most mature T lymphocytes express CD3-associated antigen receptor molecules (TCR) formed by alpha and beta chains. Recently, a minor subset has been identified that express a different CD3-associated TCR composed of gamma and delta chains. The cell subset expressing TCR gamma/delta differs from conventional T cells in a number of phenotypic and functional characteristics. The simultaneous lack of both CD4 and CD8 antigens at the cell surface allows one to greatly enrich for TCR gamma/delta + cells (by monoclonal antibodies, mAbs and complement). Cloning of CD4-8- peripheral blood lymphocytes revealed that they are homogeneously composed of cytolytic cells which, in most instances, lyse tumor target cells. TCR gamma/delta + cells proliferated in response to allogeneic cells in mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC) and MLC-derived TCR gamma/delta + cells specifically lysed PHA-induced blast cells bearing the stimulating alloantigens, thus providing the formal proof that they recognize (allo)antigens. The use of different mAbs specific for TCR gamma/delta molecules allowed us to identify two distinct subsets which bound BB3 and delta-TCS-1 mAbs, respectively. The BB3-reactive molecules in peripheral blood-derived TCR gamma/delta + cells were represented by C gamma 1-encoded disulphide-linked heterodimers, whereas delta-TCS-1 reacted with C gamma 2-encoded non disulphide-linked molecules. Both BB3 and delta-TCS-1 mAb induced activation of cloned cells expressing the corresponding antigenic determinants (as assessed by measurements of intracellular Ca++ and/or lymphokine production or cytolytic activity).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Moretta
L
L
Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Genova, Italy.
Ciccone
E
E
Mingari
M C
MC
Zeromski
J
J
Bottino
C
C
Ferrini
S
S
Tambussi
G
G
Melioli
G
G
Grossi
C E
CE
Moretta
A
A
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D006801:Humans; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D010641:Phenotype; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta