A monoclonal antibody to murine CD45R distinguishes CD4 T cell populations that produce different cytokines.
CD4 T cell clones have been shown to be functionally heterogeneous in the mouse. However, it is not known if normal CD4 T cells are also functionally heterogeneous, or whether functional specialization is a result of cloning and long-term culture. To approach this question, a monoclonal antibody reacting with a subset of CD4 T cells has been prepared by immunization of rats with different cloned T cell lines all sharing the same functional activity. This monoclonal antibody reacts with a subset of CD45 (T200) molecules by binding to a determinant requiring the expression of the second variable exon of the CD45 molecule. Some CD4 T cells bear high levels of this marker, while others react only weakly. This antibody was used to separate CD4 T cells into two subpopulations. The brightly staining population was found to produce interleukin (IL) 2 and not IL 4, while the weakly staining population produced IL 4 and not IL 2. These data demonstrate that CD4 T cells in normal mice are already functionally committed, and that they differentially express forms of CD45 that contain the second variable exon.
Bottomly
K
K
Section of Immunobiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510.
Luqman
M
M
Greenbaum
L
L
Carding
S
S
West
J
J
Pasqualini
T
T
Murphy
D B
DB
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology*; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000276:immunology*; D001685:Biological Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007378:Interleukins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D001685:Biological Factors; D016207:Cytokines; D007376:Interleukin-2; D007378:Interleukins; D015847:Interleukin-4; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens