title: Analysis of human prenatal and postnatal thymocytes with the anti-Tac monoclonal antibody and recombinant interleukin-2.
abstract: The expression of the interleukin-2 (Il-2) receptor on the cell surface membrane of human prenatal and postnatal thymocytes has been studied by flow cytometry. The in vitro responsiveness of these thymocytes to human recombinant Il-2 (rIl-2) was also studied. Prenatal and postnatal thymocytes contained very few Tac positive cells. The different T cell antigens T6, T3, T4, T8, T9, T10, 3A1 and T11 were expressed by the first trimester of fetal development. Recombinant Il-2 alone was able to induce proliferation of human prenatal and postnatal thymocytes. From this study and data in the literature we conclude that hither-to a thymic precursor cell carrying the interleukin-2 receptor as is the case for the murine thymus has not been found in man.
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000032:analysis*; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D007376:Interleukin-2; D008934:Mitogens; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins