A T cell surface molecule different from CD2 is involved in spontaneous rosette formation with erythrocytes.
Increasing evidence indicates that rosettes which spontaneously from between human T cells and E might be of physiologic relevance. We show here that another T cell-surface molecule than CD2 is involved in rosette formation. Four mAb have been obtained reacting with human T cells that block rosettes with E from many species, including autologous cells. They react with a molecule, we termed E2, which is actively synthetized by T and monocytic cells. Immunoprecipitation revealed a major 32-kDa band. Immunoblots revealed a major 32-kDa band and a minor 20-kDa band. This molecule was detected on all T cells tested--and present at high densities on corticothymocytes, but at low densities on medullary thymocytes. It was also found on monocytes but not on B cells. However B-CLL cells did carry this molecule. E2 molecules were also detected on nonhematologic cells. Together with the recent evidence that 3 molecules from the erythrocyte surface are also involved for rosettes, intricate molecular interactions would account for adhesion of T cells to autologous E and possibly autologous nucleated cells.
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000032:analysis; D018801:CD2 Antigens; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000473:pathology; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000032:analysis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000502:physiology*; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D012397:Rosette Formation; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000032:analysis
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018801:CD2 Antigens; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic