Differential expression of two T cell receptors, TcR1 and TcR2, on chicken lymphocytes.
A monoclonal antibody, TcR2, has been shown to recognize an avian homologue of the mammalian alpha/beta T cell receptor (TcR). The TcR2-reactive molecule was found to be a T3-associated heterodimer with relative molecular mass of 90-kDa consisting of disulfide-linked 50-kDa and 40-kDa polypeptides. The sizes of the deglycosylated TcR2 polypeptides differed from those of TcR1, an avian homologue of the mammalian gamma/delta T cell receptor. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed that TcR1 and TcR2 are expressed on separate populations of T cells during their development first in the thymus and then in the periphery. Ontogenetic studies revealed that the TcR1+ thymocytes are generated first and the generation of TcR2+ cells begins approximately 3 days later. While most TcR2+ cells in the thymus expressed both CT4 and CT8, TcR2+ cells in blood and the spleen were either CT4+ or CT8+. The TcR1+ cells in blood and thymus were CT4-CT8-, but the majority of TcR1+ cells in the spleen surprisingly expressed the CT8 marker. The data suggest that TcR1 and TcR2 cells are generated in the thymus as separate T cell sublineages.
Chen
C L
CL
Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama, Birmingham 35294.
Cihak
J
J
Lösch
U
U
Cooper
M D
MD
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002460:Cell Line; D002645:Chickens / Q000276:immunology*; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell