title: Identification of alpha beta and gamma delta T cell receptor-positive cells.
abstract: Two lineages of T lymphocytes bearing the CD3 antigen can be defined on the basis of the nature of the heterodimeric receptor chain (alpha beta or gamma delta T cell receptor (TCR) expressed. Precise identification of alpha beta and gamma delta TCR+ cells is essential when studying the tissue distribution and function of these different T cells. In immunofluorescence studies gamma delta TCR+ cells have been identified as CD3+WT-31- or CD3+CD4-CD8- cells. However, this may not be the optimal procedure because gamma delta TCR+ cells are weakly WT-31+, and some are CD8+. The aim of this study was to evaluate a panel of monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) directed against different chains of the TCR-T3 complex for a more precise identification of alpha beta+ and gamma delta TCR+ cells in flow cytometric studies. We found that the MoAb anti-Ti-gamma A and delta-TCS-1, recognizing the TCR-gamma and the TCR-delta chain respectively, only reacted with a subpopulation of gamma delta TCR+ cells, whereas another TCR-delta chain recognizing MoAb anti-TCR-delta 1 reacted with all gamma delta TCR+ cells. All MoAb reported to belong to the CD3 group reacted with both alpha beta TCR+ and gamma delta TCR+ cells as expected. Our results indicate that all gamma delta TCR+ cells can be identified with the MoAb anti-TCR-delta 1. Because no MoAb recognizing the TCR-alpha or TCR-beta chains at the cell surface of intact cells are yet available, we suggest that alpha beta TCR+ cells could be identified as CD3+ anti-TCR-delta 1-cells.
authors.affiliation: Tissue Typing Laboratory, State University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Geisler
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Plesner
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000937:Antigen-Antibody Reactions; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D002469:Cell Separation; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000032:analysis / Q000145:classification* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell