Subpopulations of CD4-, CD8- thymocytes.
A population of highly purified CD4-,CD8- thymocytes was analyzed by both flow microfluorometry and in situ hybridization in an attempt to further elucidate thymocyte subpopulations. The double-negative cells had a marked increase in expression of the c-myb and T cell gamma genes relative to unseparated thymocytes. Approximately 27% were Ly-24+, 8% Ly-6C+ and 6% 6B2+. All of the Ly-6C+ cells were also Ly-24+. A small population (6%) of the CD4-,CD8- thymocytes had surface expression of the T cell receptor for antigen (F23.1); all were bright Ly-1+ and half were Ly-24+. These studies demonstrate that there are further subdivisions of the CD4-, CD8- thymocytes based upon cell surface expression of markers previously found on bone marrow cells and their non-T cell progeny. Studies are in progress to determine whether these represent different stages of activation-maturation or different lineages of cells.
D000818:Animals; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL / Q000276:immunology; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D010641:Phenotype; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D020598:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myb; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000032:analysis; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification* / Q000276:immunology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology*
D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D020598:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myb; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta