Detailed characterization of gamma delta T cells within the organs in mice: classification into three groups.
gamma delta T cells are known to localize preferentially in the epithelial regions and the hepatic sinusoids, and exhibit highly restricted V gene usage depending on their location. In the present study, gamma delta T cells in mice were further characterized in terms of their expression of the interleukin-2 receptor beta-chain (IL-2R beta), CD4 and CD8, and CD8 alpha and beta. This experiment was arranged to investigate whether gamma delta T cells have different properties depending on the organs and how gamma delta T cells are different from extrathymic alpha beta T cells, i.e. alpha beta T cells in the liver and intraepithelial lymphocytes in the intestine, in terms of the above phenotypes. Three-colour immunofluorescence tests using monoclonal antibodies revealed that gamma delta T cells can be classified into three groups: gamma delta T cells of the liver type are all IL-2R beta+, are comprised of double-negative (DN) CD8-CD4- and single-positive CD8+ (no CD4+) cells, and express CD8 alpha+ beta-; gamma delta T cells of the thymus type are a mixture of IL-2R beta+ and IL-2R beta-, are mainly DN, and express CD8 alpha+ beta+ if they carry CD8 antigens; and gamma delta T cells of the intestine type are also IL-2R beta+ or IL-2R beta-, are all CD8+, and express CD8 alpha+ beta-. gamma delta T cells in the spleen of normal mice are of the thymus type, while gamma delta T cells in the spleen of athymic nude mice seem to be of the liver type. All these properties of gamma delta T cells resemble those of extrathymic alpha beta T cells rather than regular alpha beta T cells of thymic origin. The present results reveal that gamma delta T cells and other extrathymic alpha beta T cells have many properties in common as primitive lymphocytes in phylogenetic development.
Sato
K
K
Department of Immunology, Niigata University School of Medicine, Japan.
Ohtsuka
K
K
Watanabe
H
H
Asakura
H
H
Abo
T
T
D000818:Animals; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000276:immunology; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D008819:Mice, Nude; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000032:analysis; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000032:analysis*; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000276:immunology
D000954:Antigens, Surface; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2