Small CD4+8+TCRlow thymocytes contain precursors of mature T cells.
To evaluate directly the developmental potential of cortical CD4+8+ thymocytes, highly purified populations of small, nondividing CD4+8+TCRlow and large, dividing CD4+8+TCRhigh thymocytes from H-2d mice expressing a transgenic T cell receptor restricted by H-2Db (major histocompatibility complex class I) molecules were transferred into the thymus of normal, nonirradiated H-2b recipient mice. The results show that both populations generate CD4-8+ thymocytes under these conditions, thus providing conclusive evidence that small cortical thymocytes do not represent a 'dead end' but an important intermediate stage in T cell development.
Swat
W
W
Basel Institute for Immunology, Switzerland.
von Boehmer
H
H
Kisielow
P
P
D000818:Animals; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000032:analysis*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*
D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell