Cyclosporine A prevents the generation of single positive (Lyt2+ L3T4-, Lyt2- L3T4+) mature T cells, but not single positive (Lyt2+ T3-) Immature thymocytes, in newborn mice.
The influence of cyclosporine A (CsA) on T-cell maturation was investigated in newborn mice. CsA treatment during the pre- and postnatal periods resulted in a hypoplasia of peripheral lymphatic organs, and absence of mature T3+ T cells in lymph nodes and spleens; no functional T-cell reactivity was observed. In thymuses of CsA-treated mice, no T3+ single positive Lyt2+ or T3+L3T4+ thymocytes could be found, but double positive (DP) cells were readily detected. A thymocyte subset with the phenotype Lyt2+L3T4-T3- was still discernible; this population was non-functional in vitro. The data show that the maturation of single positive (SP) T cells is critically influenced by CsA; under the conditions used here we found no evidence that 'leaky' autoreactive SP T cells develop in CsA-treated newborn mice.
Heeg
K
K
Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ulm, FRG.
Bendigs
S
S
Wagner
H
H
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000276:immunology*; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000950:Antigens, Ly / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002469:Cell Separation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003524:Cyclosporins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D008297:Male; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011247:Pregnancy; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology
D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000950:Antigens, Ly; D003524:Cyclosporins