Expression of a wide T cell receptor V beta repertoire in human T lymphocytes derived in vitro from embryonic liver cell precursors.
As shown recently, CD3+/TcR+ functional T lymphocytes can be derived in culture from embryonic liver cell precursors at a gestational age (6-8 weeks) preceding the colonization of the epithelial thymus. In this report, we analyzed the V beta repertoire of T lymphocytes derived from embryonic liver by applying a quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction technique. To this end, oligonucleotide primers for C alpha or the various human V beta have been used to study both freshly derived embryonic liver cell suspensions and CD3+/TcR+ populations derived after approximately 6 weeks upon stimulation with 1% phytohemagglutinin and culture in 100 units/ml recombinant interleukin-2. In order to exclude possible contaminations with mother-derived T lymphocytes, only T cells displaying both X and Y chromosomal sequences (i.e. derived from male embryos) were further analyzed. While neither C alpha nor the various V beta could be detected in fresh liver cells, C alpha and the large majority of V beta were detected in in vitro cultured populations. The levels of the various V beta expressed by embryo-derived T cells was similar to that detected in adult peripheral blood-derived T lymphocytes. These experiments indicate that the immature liver precursors can potentially give rise in vitro to T cells which express a wide V beta repertoire and may provide a suitable in vitro system for the analysis of the selection processes mediated by either major histocompatibility complex antigen or superantigens.
Poggi
A
A
Laboratory of Immunopathology, Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Genova, Italy.
Demarest
J F
JF
Costa
P
P
Biassoni
R
R
Pella
N
N
Pantaleo
G
G
Mingari
M C
MC
Moretta
L
L
D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000096:biosynthesis; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D013909:Thorax / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology
D000954:Antigens, Surface; D017252:CD3 Complex; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta