title: Anti-Thy-1-induced proliferation of immature thymocytes expressing the CD3-associated gamma/delta heterodimer.
abstract: A series of rat monoclonal antibodies (mAb) directed against the Thy-1 molecule have been evaluated for their ability to stimulate immature (CD4-8-) murine thymocytes. CD4-8- thymocytes could be induced to proliferate by several anti-Thy-1 mAb provided that exogenous interleukin 1 or interleukin 2 was provided. Apparently non-stimulatory anti-Thy-1 mAb could be rendered stimulatory if cross-linked by a rabbit anti-rat immunoglobulin reagent. Anti-Thy-1-stimulated CD4-8- thymocytes were found to uniformly express CD3 but did not stain positively with F23.1, a mAb reactive with alpha/beta T cell receptors utilizing the V beta 8 gene family. Immunoprecipitation analysis of such stimulated CD4-8- thymocytes indicated that they expressed a CD3-associated heterodimer of 45 kDa/35 kDa most likely corresponding to the product of the gamma and (putative) delta T cell receptor genes. Taken together, these data demonstrate that anti-Thy-1 mAb selectively activate a subset of CD4-8- thymocytes committed to the gamma/delta T cell receptor lineage.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology*; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000276:immunology*; D017252:CD3 Complex; D002455:Cell Division; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL / Q000276:immunology; D051381:Rats; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018800:Thy-1 Antigens; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D017252:CD3 Complex; D018800:Thy-1 Antigens