title: Expression of Thy-1 on rat T cells and its relevance as a maturation marker of T cells in rats.
abstract: Expression of Thy-1 and CD3 antigens on thymocytes and the nylon wool-non-adherent (nylon-nonad) fractions of peripheral lymphocytes in F344 rats was studied by flow cytometry using anti-Thy-1 and anti-CD3 antibodies. In terms of the expression and density of Thy-1 and CD3, the thymus and peripheral lymphoid tissues in rats contained different populations. Nearly all thymocytes showed a high density of Thy-1 (Thy-1hi); a small population with a low density of Thy-1 (Thy-1lo) was found in CD3 bright-positive (CD3hi) thymocytes. Three-color analysis with CD4, CD8 and Thy-1 revealed Thy-1lo thymocytes to have mainly CD4 or CD8; Thy-1hi thymocytes also contained CD4 or CD8 single-positive (SP) cells as a minor population. Thus, SP thymocytes bearing CD3 were divided into two populations by evaluation of the density of Thy-1. Of peripheral CD3+ T cells, 15% showed a low density of Thy-1+ and the others were Thy-1-. Both T cells responded to anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody (mAb). However, no Thy-1hi T cells were found in peripheral lymphoid tissues. These results suggested that SP thymocytes in rats develop with the reduction of Thy-1, but not with its loss, and are newly supplied to peripheral lymphoid tissues as the phenotype, Thy-1lo, and are altered to Thy-1- T cells. Analysis of each cell size and disappearance of peripheral Thy-1lo T cells with age supported the above conclusion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygienic Chemistry, Pharamaceutical Institute, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hozumi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Masuko
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000276:immunology*; D015415:Biomarkers; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*; D018800:Thy-1 Antigens; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000954:Antigens, Surface; D015415:Biomarkers; D017252:CD3 Complex; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D018800:Thy-1 Antigens