Cloned human CD3- lymphocytes with natural killer-like activity do not express nor rearrange T cell receptor gamma genes.
Here we report the characterization of T cell receptor (TCR) gene activation in 14 CD3- cloned lymphocytes with natural killer-like activity from different origins. No transcription of either alpha or beta or gamma genes is detected in any of these clones. All J beta, C beta clusters are in germ-line configuration. The 5 presently described J gamma loci (J gamma P1, J gamma P, J gamma 1, J gamma P2, J gamma 2) are also in germ-line configuration on each chromosome. These results indicate that several distinct populations of CD3- cloned NK cells do not use gamma gene products as a recognition structure. Perhaps more importantly, these cells do not appear to be engaged in the earliest presently known stage of T lymphocyte differentiation, namely rearrangement at one of the J gamma loci.
D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis*; D002460:Cell Line; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D005796:Genes; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics*; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000502:physiology*
D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta