Genes encoding the Ti beta subunit of the antigen/MHC receptor undergo rearrangement during intrathymic ontogeny prior to surface T3-Ti expression.
To obtain further information about the ontogeny of the T-cell antigen/MHC receptor, a Ti beta subunit cDNA probe and heteroantisera specific for the Ti alpha and Ti beta subunits were utilized to characterize human T-lineage cells. Analysis of thymic tumors and normal thymocytes at both the DNA and protein levels demonstrates that Ti beta gene rearrangement is evident in stage II (T11+T6+T3-) and stage III (T11+T6-T3+), but not stage I (T11+T6-T3-) thymocytes. In contrast, surface expression of Ti alpha and Ti beta molecules is exclusively restricted to stage III thymocytes. Thus human T-lineage ontogeny is characterized by an orderly series of differentiation steps wherein Ti beta gene rearrangement precedes surface expression of the T3-Ti molecular complex.
D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D005796:Genes; D006801:Humans; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D010641:Phenotype; D011946:Receptors, Antigen / Q000235:genetics*; D012397:Rosette Formation; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000276:immunology; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology
D011946:Receptors, Antigen; D004247:DNA