The acquisition of receptors for peanut agglutinin by peanut agglutinin-negative thymocytes and peripheral T cells.
Using fluorescein-conjugated peanut agglutinin (PNA) and the fluorescence-activated cell sorter, we have shown that the cytotoxic T cells generated by culturing thymocytes (about 85% PNA+ cells) with Con A and medium conditioned by Con A-stimulated spleen cells were mostly PNA+. Cytotoxic T cells generated in parallel cultured of PNA- thymocytes or normal lymph node cells (in which the T cells are PNA-), however, were also mostly PNA+. The development of PNA+ cells from PNA- mature peripheral T cells was confirmed by using cultures of PNA- T cells separated on a fluorescence-activated cell sorter from lymph node cells. Immunization in vivo also resulted in the appearance of PNA+ T cells in the lymph node. These results indicate that receptors for PNA can no longer be regarded as unambiguous markers of T cell immaturity, or of the origin of a T cell from a PNA+ precursor. The possibility that a variable proportion of the PNA+ cells in the thymus may be generated by intrathymic activation of PNA- medullary thymocytes is discussed.
D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002469:Cell Separation; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D037102:Lectins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D019887:Peanut Agglutinin; D011975:Receptors, Mitogen / Q000235:genetics*; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*
D037102:Lectins; D019887:Peanut Agglutinin; D011975:Receptors, Mitogen; D003208:Concanavalin A