Heterogeneity within medullary-type TCRalphabeta(+)CD3(+)CD4(-)CD8(+) thymocytes in normal mouse thymus.
The functional maturation process of medullary-type CD4(-)CD8(+) [CD8 single-positive (SP)] thymocytes remains largely uncharacterized. We describe a phenotypic analysis of CD8 SP medullary-type thymocytes and find a remarkable heterogeneity within this thymic cell population. While mature CD8(+) T cells in the periphery are relatively homogeneous (TCRalphabeta(+)CD3(+)Qa-2(+) HSA(-)3G11(-)6C10(-)CD69(-)), CD8 SP medullary-type thymocytes contain discrete subpopulations that can be identified by differential expression of several cell-surface markers. We have identified at least six discrete subpopulations in the subset of TCRalphabeta(+)CD3(+) CD8 SP cells in the thymus. According to the expressed phenotypes, a linear developmental pathway is predicted among these CD8 SP subpopulations as follows: 6C10(+)CD69(+)HSA(hi)3G11(+)Qa-2(-) --> 6C10(-)CD69(+)HSA(hi/int)3G11(+)Qa-2(-) --> 6C10(-)CD69(-)HSA(int)3G11(+)Qa-2(-) --> 6C10(-)CD69(-)HSA(lo)3G11(+)Qa-2(-) --> 6C10(-)CD69(-)HSA(-/lo)3G11(-)Qa-2(-) --> 6C10(-)CD69(-)HSA(-/lo)3G11(-)Qa-2(+). This study provides a framework for understanding CD8 SP T cell maturation in the thymic medulla.
Tian
T
T
Department of Immunology, Peking University Health Science Center, 38 Xue Yuan Road, Beijing 100083, China.
Zhang
J
J
Gao
L
L
Qian
X P
XP
Chen
W F
WF
D000818:Animals; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000032:analysis*; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D003348:Cortisone / Q000494:pharmacology; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000032:analysis; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000032:analysis*; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000737:chemistry*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology*
D017252:CD3 Complex; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; C032907:Q surface antigens; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D003348:Cortisone