title: A T lymphoid cell line responds to a thymic stromal cell line by expression of Thy-1 and CD4.
abstract: We have cloned both T lymphoid and stromal lines from a single murine thymic tumor that was induced by a retrovirus carrying the v-myc oncogene (M-MuLV(myc]. The T lymphoid line, L4, was cloned by growth in agar. L4 cells were initially negative for Thy-1.2 and CD4 (although they contained rearranged TCR-beta genes), and they remained so if passaged in medium alone. However, cocultivation of these Thy-1.2- CD4- cells with the cloned stromal cell line, St3, resulted in sequential expression of Thy-1.2 and CD4 in subpopulations of cells. Thy-1.2+ CD4- and Thy-1.2+ CD4+ L4 subclones were obtained from the cocultures by subsequent cloning in agar. Derivation of these subclones from the starting Thy-1.2- CD4- clone was verified by Southern blot analyses specific for TCR-beta gene rearrangements and for M-MuLV(myc) proviral integration sites. Continuous cocultivation of Thy-1.2+ CD4+ L4 subclones with the St3 stromal cells was necessary for maintenance of CD4 on the cell surface. Furthermore, CD4 expression which was lost when CD4+ L4 cells were removed from the stroma could be reinduced if they were again cultured on St3 stroma. These cells may provide a model system for studying thymocyte-stromal cell interactions in induction and maintenance of expression of Thy-1 and CD4 molecules.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of California, Irvine 92717.
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Brightman
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Chandy
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Spencer
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000276:immunology*; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D002450:Cell Communication; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D015333:Gene Rearrangement, beta-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D051379:Mice; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D018800:Thy-1 Antigens; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D018800:Thy-1 Antigens