title: The mouse T-lymphocyte-activating molecule THAM is associated to ECTO-aminopeptidase activity.
abstract: In the mouse there are three non-CD3/T-cell receptor T cell-activating molecules, Thy-1, Ly-6 antigens, and the CD28 homologue. Using a mitogenic rat monoclonal antibody, we identified a novel thymocyte-activating molecule (THAM). Here we review the main characteristics of this heterodimeric glycoprotein with respect to its expression on lymphoid and non-lymphoid cells, and its biochemical and T-cell-activating properties. THAM shares a number of structural features with surface peptidases of epithelial cell brush borders, and is in fact associated with a neutral aminopeptidase activity. The biologic significance of this observation is discussed in the context of recent data on the involvement of several ecto-enzymes in T-cell activation and differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Centre d'Immunologie INSERM-CNRS de Marseille-Luminy, France.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vivier
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Naquet
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Gorvel
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rigal
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pierres
mesh_terms: D000626:Aminopeptidases / Q000032:analysis* / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis* / Q000502:physiology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018127:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7
chemical_list: D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D018127:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7; D000626:Aminopeptidases