title: Major histocompatibility complex-linked specificity of gamma delta receptor-bearing T lymphocytes.
abstract: Several recent studies have identified a distinct subset of CD3(T3)+CD4-CD8-T lymphocytes that express a CD3-associated heterodimer made up of the protein encoded by the T-cell receptor (TCR) gamma-gene and a second glycoprotein termed TCR delta (refs 1-4). TCR gamma delta is expressed on CD3+ thymocytes during fetal ontogeny before the appearance of TCR alpha-beta (alpha beta) (refs 5-7), on CD3+CD4-CD8- adult thymocytes, and on a subset (1-10%) of CD3+ cells in adult peripheral lymphoid organs and the peripheral blood. TCR gamma delta-expressing T cells probably represent a distinct mature T-cell lineage with the capacity to proliferate in response to receptor-mediated signals, and to display non-major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-restricted cytolysis. Critical to understanding the function of this T-cell subset is the identification of the ligand(s) recognized by TCR gamma delta. Here we describe an alloreactive CD3+CD4-CD8-TCR gamma delta-expressing, TCR alpha beta-negative, T-cell line that manifests MHC-linked recognition specificity for both proliferation and cytotoxicity. Our results suggest that T cells expressing TCR gamma delta are capable of self-non-self MHC discrimination and that they can undergo MHC-influenced selection during differentiation like TCR alpha beta-expressing T cells.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis; D002460:Cell Line; D003429:Cross Reactions; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D007120:Immunochemistry; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D008819:Mice, Nude; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010641:Phenotype; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell