The T cell surface--how well do we know it?
The overall degree of complexity of the T cell surface has been unclear, constraining our understanding of its biology. Using global gene expression analysis, we show that 111 of 374 genes encoding well-characterized leukocyte surface antigens are expressed by a resting cytotoxic T cell. Unexpectedly, of 97 stringently defined, T cell-specific transcripts with unknown functions that we identify, none encode proteins with the modular architecture characteristic of 80% of leukocyte surface antigens. Only two encode proteins with membrane topologies found exclusively in cell surface molecules. Our analysis indicates that the cell type-specific composition of the resting CD8+ T cell surface is now largely defined, providing an insight into the overall compositional complexity of the mammalian cell surface and a framework for formulating systematic models of T cell surface-dependent processes, such as T cell receptor triggering.
Evans
Edward J
EJ
Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, The University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford OX3 9DU, United Kingdom.
Hene
Lawrence
L
Sparks
Lisa M
LM
Dong
Tao
T
Retiere
Christelle
C
Fennelly
Janet A
JA
Manso-Sancho
Raquel
R
Powell
Jill
J
Braud
Veronique M
VM
Rowland-Jones
Sarah L
SL
McMichael
Andrew J
AJ
Davis
Simon J
SJ
D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000235:genetics; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000276:immunology*; D002999:Clone Cells; D015870:Gene Expression; D015723:Gene Library; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D000954:Antigens, Surface