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Biomedical subjects

L A Turka

Publications and source records attributed to L A Turka.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

T-cell activation by the CD28 ligand B7 is required for cardiac allograft rejection in vivo.

Organ graft rejection is a T-cell-dependent process. The activation of alloreactive T cells requires stimulation of the T-cell receptor/CD3 complex by foreign major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-encoded gene products. However, accumulating evidence suggests that, in addition to T-cell receptor occupancy, other costimulatory signals are required to induce T-cell activation. Previously, the CD28 receptor expressed on T cells has been shown to serve as a surface component of a signal transduction pathway that can provide costimulation. In vitro, interaction of CD28 with its natural ligand B7 expressed on the surface of activated B cells or macrophages can act as a costimulus to induce proliferation and lymphokine production in antigen receptor-activated T cells. We now report evidence that stimulation of T cells by the CD28 ligand B7 is a required costimulatory event for the rejection of a MHC-incompatible cardiac allograft in vivo. These results demonstrate that the B7/CD28 activation pathway plays an important role in regulating in vivo T-cell responses.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Isolation of a cDNA clone encoding a zinc finger protein highly expressed in T-leukemia lines.

A cDNA clone encoding a novel zinc finger protein expressed in lymphoid cells has been isolated. This protein contains 5 repeats of the C2H2 motif previously described in the Drosophila gap gene, Krüppel, which is involved in embryo segmentation. Northern blot analysis showed that the messenger RNA (mRNA) encoding this protein is expressed at high levels in a variety of T-leukemia cell lines, at lower levels in some B cells, but is not observed in nonlymphoid cells. Within the T lineage, the mRNA is found at high levels in both alpha beta and gamma delta T cells. These data suggest that this cDNA, designated Hkr-T1, represents a gene that may contribute to the determination of the differentiation and the specificity within lymphoid cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Defective signal transduction by the CD2 molecule in immature T-cell receptor/CD3- thymocytes.

The CD2 accessory molecule mediates an activation pathway in mature T cells, transducing signals similar to those observed following stimulation of the T-cell receptor/CD3 (TCR/CD3) complex. CD2 is also one of the earliest cell surface markers to appear during thymic ontogeny and has been proposed to be a stimulatory pathway for immature thymocytes that have not yet expressed TCRs on their surface (TCR/CD3-). To examine this hypothesis highly purified TCR/CD3- human thymocytes were stimulated using mitogenic combinations of anti-CD2 monoclonal antibodies or individual biotinylated anti-CD2 monoclonal antibodies crosslinked with avidin. TCR/CD3+ thymocytes responded readily to either stimulus as determined by anti-phosphotyrosine immunoblotting, and the pattern of tyrosine phosphorylated substrates was similar to that of mature T cells. In contrast, TCR/CD3- thymocytes responded weakly and with a distinct substrate pattern. In addition, the altered signal transduced by CD2 in TCR/CD3- thymocytes did not lead to a rise in intracellular calcium, failed to induce interleukin 2 receptor expression, and did not serve as a comitogen with phorbol ester or interleukin 2, functions that were all intact in TCR/CD3+ thymocytes. Failure of TCR/CD3- thymocytes to respond to CD2 stimulation was not due to an intrinsic defect in these cells as they responded normally to phorbol ester plus calcium ionophore. In TCR/CD3- thymocytes, CD2 stimulation also failed to affect steady-state mRNA levels of the recombination-activating genes RAG1 and RAG2, whereas in TCR/CD3+ cells activation of the CD2 pathway terminated their expression. Together, these data support the concept that CD2 engagement does not deliver a stimulus to TCR/CD3- thymocytes and suggests that this molecule may not directly participate in the earliest stages of thymic development.

Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte↗
PubMed1992

Antibody and B7/BB1-mediated ligation of the CD28 receptor induces tyrosine phosphorylation in human T cells.

CD28 is an adhesion receptor expressed as a 44-kD dimer on the surface of a major subset of human T cells. The CD28 receptor regulates the production of multiple lymphokines, including interleukin 2 (IL-2), by activation of a signal transduction pathway that is poorly understood. Here we show that ligation of CD28 by a monoclonal antibody (mAb) or by a natural ligand, B7/BB1, induces protein tyrosine phosphorylation that is distinct from T cell receptor (TCR)-induced tyrosine phosphorylation. CD28-induced protein tyrosine phosphorylation was greatly enhanced in cells that had been preactivated by ligation of the TCR, or by pretreatment with phorbol esters. Rapid and prolonged tyrosine phosphorylation of a single substrate, pp100, was induced in T cells after interaction with B7/BB1 presented on transfected Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Anti-B7 mAb inhibited B7/BB1 receptor-induced tyrosine phosphorylation, indicating that B7-CD28 interaction was required. CD28-induced tyrosine phosphorylation was independent of the TCR because it occurred in a variant of the Jurkat T cell line that does not express the TCR. Herbimycin A, a protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor, could prevent CD28-induced tyrosine phosphorylation and CD28-induced IL-2 production in normal T cells. The simultaneous crosslinking of CD28 and CD45, a tyrosine phosphatase, could prevent tyrosine phosphorylation of pp100. These results suggest that specific tyrosine phosphorylation, particularly of pp100, occurs directly as a result of CD28 ligand binding and is involved in transducing the signal delivered through CD28 by accessory cells that express the B7/BB1 receptor. Thus, this particular form of signal transduction may be relevant to lymphokine production and, potentially may provide a means to study the induction of self-tolerance, given the putative role of the costimulatory signal in the induction of T cell activation or anergy.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1992

CD45 modulates T cell receptor/CD3-induced activation of human thymocytes via regulation of tyrosine phosphorylation.

Stimulation of thymocytes or mature T cells via the T cell receptor (TcR)/CD3 complex activates a cascade of processes inducing cells to enter the cell cycle. A key step is the activation of phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) within seconds following TcR/CD3 stimulation, an event which is strongly enhanced by co-ligation of the CD4 (or CD8) accessory molecule with TcR/CD3. In contrast, co-ligation of CD45 inhibits the same TcR/CD3 responses. The machinery which couples the TcR/CD3 complex, CD4, and CD45 to PI-PLC appears to involve regulation of tyrosine phosphorylation, as the TcR/CD3 and CD4 receptors are associated with the tyrosine kinases p59fyn and p56lck, respectively, and CD45 has intrinsic tyrosine phosphatase activity. Here, we have examined the ability of CD45 to regulate signal transduction via TcR/CD3 in human thymocytes. Co-cross-linking CD45 to the TcR/CD3 complex strongly suppressed the tyrosine phosphorylation of several intracellular substrates normally seen following TcR/CD3 stimulation. This effect of CD45 was associated with inhibition of a rise in intracellular calcium following TcR/CD3 ligation. Since TcR/CD3 stimulation of mature T cells induces tyrosine phosphorylation of PLC gamma 1, we investigated this phenomenon in thymocytes, and asked whether ligation of CD45 might regulate this process. By immunoprecipitation we found that TcR/CD3 stimulation induced tyrosine phosphorylation of PLC gamma 1, an effect which was enhanced by co-cross-linking CD4 to TcR/CD3. In contrast, co-ligation of CD45 strongly blocked PLC gamma 1 phosphorylation induced by either stimulus. Consistent with previous findings in mature T cells, CD45 cross-linking was able to partially inhibit TcR/CD3-induced thymocyte proliferation when interleukin 2 was used as a second signal, but almost completely (80%-90%) blocked proliferation when anti-CD28 mAb was used as the second signal, suggesting that CD45 cross-linking may be able to block interleukin 2 production via the CD28 pathway. These effects of CD45 on TcR/CD3 signaling and proliferation in thymocytes point towards a potential role for this pathway in thymic selection.

Antigens, CD↗
PubMed1992

CD28 and staphylococcal enterotoxins synergize to induce MHC-independent T-cell proliferation.

The bacterial exotoxins staphylococcal enterotoxin A and B (SEA and SEB) mediate disease through their effects on T lymphocytes. In this manuscript we have demonstrated that both SEA and SEB can directly activate purified T cells in the absence of accessory cells as determined by a transition from G0 to G1 and induction of IL-2 receptor expression. However, neither SEA nor SEB alone was sufficient to result in T-cell proliferation. The induction of T-cell proliferation by SEB or SEA required the addition of a second costimulatory signal. This could be provided by either accessory cells or monoclonal antibody stimulation of CD28. As previously reported, T-cell proliferation induced by enterotoxin in the presence of accessory cells was partially inhibited by a blocking antibody against class II MHC. In contrast, in purified T cells when costimulation was provided through CD28, proliferation was not inhibited by class II antibody, and HLA-DR expression was not detectable. In addition, costimulation through CD28 was partially resistant to the effects of cyclosporin A. These results demonstrate that CD28 costimulation is sufficient to induce proliferation of enterotoxin-activated T cells, and that this effect is independent of class II MHC expression.

Antigens, CD↗
PubMed1992

A factor secreted by a human pulmonary alveolar epithelial-like cell line blocks T-cell proliferation between G1 and S phase.

Because the pulmonary alveolar space is both the site of gas exchange for respiration and a portal of entry for foreign antigen, immunologic interactions within that space must be meticulously controlled. Alveolar epithelial cells are ideally situated to play a role in immune regulation within the alveolar space. We have used A549 cells, a cell line that is derived from a human alveolar cell carcinoma and that has been used as a model for alveolar type II epithelial cells, to examine the potential role of alveolar epithelial cells in local pulmonary immune regulation. Medium conditioned by confluent monolayers of A549 cells suppressed proliferation by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) stimulated with lectin, anti-CD3 antibodies, calcium ionophore and phorbol ester, or in a mixed leukocyte reaction. PBMC that had been incubated in and then removed from A549-conditioned medium went on to proliferate normally. Because the suppressive effect was abrogated by heating or acidification and was not blocked by neutralizing antibody to transforming growth factor-beta 1, this effect could not be attributed to transforming growth factor-beta. The factor mediating this effect has an approximate molecular weight of 70,000 D by gel filtration chromatography. Nonalveolar, pulmonary carcinoma cell lines did not exert this immunosuppressive influence nor did the alveolar epithelial cells inhibit proliferation by the transformed, Jurkat, T-cell line. Cell cycle analysis demonstrated that PBMC exposed to A549 cell-conditioned medium failed to enter S phase after mitogen stimulation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Biological Factors↗
PubMed1992

Differential expression of Op18 phosphoprotein during human thymocyte maturation.

Op18 (also termed prosolin/stathmin) is a highly conserved 18-kD cytosolic phosphoprotein expressed in low levels in mature resting G0 lymphocytes, but induced in late G1 and S phases after entry into the cell cycle. In addition to its induction in normal proliferating lymphocytes, Op18 has been found to occur at high levels in acute leukemias and in neuroendocrine tissue. The presence and rapid phosphorylation of Op18 after stimulation of proliferating cells correlates with subsequent functional responses of the cells, and, therefore, Op18 has been suggested to play a key role in signal transduction. The pattern of expression of Op18 during lymphoid development is of interest in view of its high levels of expression in acute leukemias, representing cells arrested at an immature stage, thus raising the possibility that Op18 may be regulated differently in mature and immature lymphoid cells. We report here that immature human thymocytes bearing the cortical double positive phenotype (CD4+CD8+) constitutively express high levels of Op18 protein. In contrast, in mature single positive thymocytes (CD3+CD4+ or CD3+CD8+), Op18 protein is expressed at a lower level, comparable to that seen in peripheral blood T cells. Cell cycle analysis demonstrated that most of the cells in the double positive thymocyte population expressing high levels of Op18 were noncycling and arrested in G0. Furthermore, there was no correlation between Op18 levels and the proportion of cycling cells in double positive thymocyte populations isolated from different thymuses. Interestingly, although Op18 protein levels did not increase any further after mitogenic stimulation of double positive thymocytes, an increase in Op18 phosphorylation was observed, thus coupling of Op18 phosphorylation to cell activation remained intact. Our results show that during lymphoid maturation Op18 expression is uncoupled from cell proliferation. These data also suggest that the ordered expression of proliferation-associated genes seen in mature T cells may be disrupted during T cell maturation.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

c-myb effects on kinetic events during MEL cell differentiation.

During dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO)-induced differentiation of Friend mouse erythroleukemia (MEL) cells there is a biphasic fall in c-myb mRNA levels. We have previously shown that constitutive expression of c-myb blocks differentiation. To delineate more accurately the point at which Myb blocks differentiation, MEL cells were transfected with a human c-myb construct under the control of the beta-globin promoter and enhancers. In concert with endogenous DMSO-induced globin transcription during MEL cell differentiation, the beta-globin c-myb transcription unit of the transfected plasmid is activated after 3-5 days of culture in media containing DMSO. Here we describe c-myb-transformed MEL clones which undergo delayed expression of the exogenous c-myb following 3-5 days of culture in DMSO. In contrast to wild-type MEL cells, both clones failed to display phenotypic markers of differentiation and continued to proliferate for up to 10 days of culture. These data suggest that the late fall in c-myb levels may be required in order for differentiation to occur. Additionally, we suggest that constitutive expression of c-myb does not block early commitment events such as activation of histone Hl', subsequent chromatin condensation, and alteration of proliferation-related gene expression. Taken together, these results show that c-myb acts very late in the process of differentiation.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Comparison of the effects of mizoribine with those of azathioprine, 6-mercaptopurine, and mycophenolic acid on T lymphocyte proliferation and purine ribonucleotide metabolism.

The immunosuppressive drug mizoribine has been demonstrated to inhibit T lymphocyte proliferation by depleting these cells of guanine ribonucleotides as a consequence of inhibiting the enzyme inosine monophosphate (IMP) dehydrogenase. Because the immunosuppressive agents azathioprine and 6-mercaptopurine (6MP) are both converted to the IMP analog 6-thio-IMP, we postulated that these drugs might inhibit T cell activation and/or proliferation by a similar mechanism. Incubation of isolated peripheral blood T cells with either mizoribine or the selective IMP dehydrogenase inhibitor mycophenolic acid caused a dose-dependent inhibition of T cell proliferation, which was reversible with the addition of 50 microM guanosine to replete guanine ribonucleotide pools. In contrast, guanosine exacerbated the inhibition of proliferation induced by azathioprine and restored proliferation at IC50 concentrations of 6MP by only 10%. Complete restoration of proliferation in the presence of 6MP, but not azathioprine, was achieved with the addition of adenine. The inhibitory effects of azathioprine, as well as those of mizoribine, 6MP, and mycophenolic acid, were identical in cells stimulated with antibody to the T cell receptor and in cells stimulated with phorbol ester and ionomycin. We conclude from these studies that mizoribine selectively inhibits guanine ribonucleotide formation in purified T cells, whereas the effect of 6MP appears to be more dependent on adenine ribonucleotide depletion. Azathioprine, on the other hand, inhibits proliferation by a mechanism independent of purine ribonucleotide depletion. None of these agents inhibits T cell proliferation by interfering with signal transduction mediated by the T cell receptor. Inhibition of guanine ribonucleotide biosynthesis appears to be a novel and perhaps more selective mechanism of inhibiting T cell proliferative responses after T cell activation.

Azathioprine↗
PubMed1991

Thymocyte expression of RAG-1 and RAG-2: termination by T cell receptor cross-linking.

The expression of the V(D)J [variable (diversity) joining elements] recombination activating genes, RAG-1 and RAG-2, has been examined during T cell development in the thymus. In situ hybridization to intact thymus and RNA blot analysis of isolated thymic subpopulations separated on the basis of T cell receptor (TCR) expression demonstrated that both TCR- and TCR+ cortical thymocytes express RAG-1 and RAG-2 messenger RNA's. Within the TCR+ population, RAG expression was observed in immature CD4+CD8+ (double positive) cells, but not in the more mature CD4+CD8- or CD4-CD8+ (single positive) subpopulations. Thus, although cortical thymocytes that bear TCR on their surface continue to express RAG-1 and RAG-2, it appears that the expression of both genes is normally terminated during subsequent thymic maturation. Since thymocyte maturation in vivo is thought to be regulated through the interaction of the TCR complex with self major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens, these data suggest that signals transduced by the TCR complex might result in the termination of RAG expression. Consistent with this hypothesis, thymocyte TCR cross-linking in vitro led to rapid termination of RAG-1 and RAG-2 expression, whereas cross-linking of other T cell surface antigens such as CD4, CD8, or HLA class I had no effect.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Signal transduction via CD4, CD8, and CD28 in mature and immature thymocytes. Implications for thymic selection.

The positive and negative selection of immature thymocytes that shapes the mature T cell repertoire appears to occur at an intermediate stage of development when the cells express low levels of TCR/CD3. These cells are also CD4+CD8+ and CD28+ (dull), and signals delivered by these three accessory molecules have been implicated in the selection process. We have examined the regulatory function of these accessory molecules on responses of immature thymocytes stimulated through the TCR/CD3 complex. Cross-linking CD4 or CD8 with CD3 strongly enhanced signal transduction via CD3 as assessed by protein tyrosine phosphorylation and calcium mobilization. Subsequent cell proliferation could be induced by soluble anti-CD28 mAb, which was comitogenic for cells stimulated with CD3 x CD4 or CD3 x CD8 cross-linking, but was without effect on cells stimulated with CD3 x CD3 cross-linking. A potential role for CD28 signal transduction in thymic maturation is suggested by the demonstration that the BB-1 molecule, a natural ligand for CD28, is expressed on thymic stromal cells. Taken together, our data suggest a model of thymic development in which CD4 or CD8 may enhance TCR/CD3 signaling upon coligation by an MHC molecule. If the CD28 surface receptor is simultaneously stimulated by a BB-1 expressing stromal cell, this set of interactions could lead to proliferation and positive selection. In the absence of CD28 stimulation the enhanced TCR/CD3 signals might lead to apoptosis and negative selection.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1991

Alveolar epithelial cells block lymphocyte proliferation in vitro without inhibiting activation.

In the face of constant exposure to inhaled antigens, precise local regulation of immune responses in the pulmonary alveolar space is essential to achieve a delicate balance between host defense and excessive immune responses that are incompatible with the primary physiologic function of the lung. We postulated that the cells of the alveolar epithelium may have an immunoregulatory role in the lung. Therefore, we have examined the effects of primary cultures of rat type II alveolar epithelial cells on lymphocyte proliferation and on the expression of a number of markers of T-cell activation. Monolayers of alveolar epithelial cells suppressed proliferation and DNA synthesis by concanavalin A-stimulated rat splenocytes. Suppression of [3H]thymidine incorporation was independent of the dose of mitogen and was also apparent when lymphocytes were stimulated with phorbol esters and calcium ionophore, suggesting that the effect was independent of cell surface binding of the lectin. Suppression was reversed 48 h after lectin-stimulated splenocytes were removed from co-culture with alveolar epithelial cells. Despite inhibition of lymphocyte proliferation, other markers of T-cell activation were induced normally in lymphocytes cultured with alveolar epithelial cells. Culture with alveolar epithelial cells did not inhibit the the production of interleukin-2 by stimulated lymphocytes. Furthermore, by fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis, equal proportions of stimulated lymphocytes in culture alone or with alveolar epithelial cell monolayers were induced to express receptors for interleukin-2 and for transferrin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Guanine ribonucleotide depletion inhibits T cell activation. Mechanism of action of the immunosuppressive drug mizoribine.

The immunosuppressive drug, mizoribine, has been used to prevent rejection of organ allografts in humans and in animal models. Based on studies in cell lines, mizoribine has been postulated to be an inhibitor of inosine monophosphate (IMP) dehydrogenase (EC1.2.1.14), a pivotal enzyme in the formation of guanine ribonucleotides from IMP. To further characterize the mechanism of action of this drug, we studied the effect of mizoribine on human peripheral blood T cells stimulated with alloantigen, anti-CD3 MAb, or pharmacologic mitogens. Mizoribine (1-50 micrograms/ml) was able to inhibit T cell proliferation by 10-100% in a dose-dependent fashion to all stimuli tested. Measurements of purine ribonucleotide pools by HPLC showed that mizoribine led to a decrease in intracellular GTP levels, and that repletion of GTP reversed its antiproliferative effects. We also examined sequential events occurring after T cell stimulation. Early events in T cell activation, as assessed by steady-state mRNA levels of c-myc, IL-2, c-myb, histone, and cdc2 kinase, as well as surface IL-2 receptor expression, were unaffected. However, cell cycle analysis revealed decreased numbers of cells in S, G2, and M phases, and showed that the G1/S block was reversed with GTP repletion. These data indicate that mizoribine has an effect on T cell proliferation by a mechanism distinct from that of cyclosporine or corticosteroids, and therefore may be useful in combination immunosuppressive regimens.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1990

The genomic organization of the CD28 gene. Implications for the regulation of CD28 mRNA expression and heterogeneity.

CD28 is a 90-kDa homodimeric glycoprotein present on the surface of a large subset of T cells that appears to play an important role in the modulation of T cell activation. Although a number of physiologic effects associated with CD28 stimulation have been defined, relatively less is known about the structure and expression of the CD28 gene itself. We now show that CD28 is expressed in both Th cells and plasma cells as a series of four distinct CD28 mRNA species: 1.3-, 1.5-, 3.5-, and 3.7-kb transcripts. The steady state expression of all four transcripts in CD28+ T cells was stimulated by PMA, suggesting that they might share a common phorbol-sensitive promoter. Consistent with this hypothesis, CD28 was found to be encoded by a single copy gene organized into four exons, each exon defining a functional domain of the predicted protein. All CD28 transcripts appear to initiate within a 61-bp palindrome. Generation of the four CD28 mRNA species from the CD28 gene involves two distinct posttranscriptional events. The longer pair of transcripts (3.5/3.7 kb) is generated by the use of an alternate nonconsensus polyadenylation signal. This results in the addition of 2167 bp beyond the first polyadenylation site utilized by the shorter (1.3/1.5 kb) pair of transcripts. The size difference between the 3.7- and 3.5-kb messages and between the 1.5- and 1.3-kb messages is generated by an internal splicing event that deletes 252 bp within exon 2, which encodes the extracellular domain. This deletion would result in the loss of 84 amino acids, including 4 of 5 extracellular cysteine residues. Although this deletion would result in significant disruption of CD28 secondary structure, it would not be expected to interfere with the ability of the resultant protein to be expressed on the cell surface. These findings suggest that variant isotypes of CD28 may be expressed on the cell surface with potentially different physiologic roles.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

CD28 is an inducible T cell surface antigen that transduces a proliferative signal in CD3+ mature thymocytes.

The rearrangement of TCR genes during thymic ontogeny creates a repertoire of T cell specificities that is refined to ensure the deletion of autoreactive clones and the MHC restriction of T cell responses. Signals delivered via the accessory molecules CD2, CD4, and CD8 have a crucial role in this phase of T cell differentiation. Recently, CD28 has been identified as a signal transducing molecule on the surface of most mature T cells. Perturbation of the CD28 molecule stimulates a novel pathway of T cell activation regulating the production of a variety of lymphokines including IL-2. We have studied the expression and function of CD28 during thymic ontogeny, and in resting and activated PBL. A variable percentage of resting thymocytes were CD28+ (3 to 25%, n = 8), but it was found in high density only on mature CD3+(bright) CD4/CD8 cells. Both unseparated thymocytes and isolated CD3-CD28-/dull cells proliferated when stimulated with PMA plus IL-2 or PMA plus ionomycin. PMA treatment also rapidly up-regulated CD28 expression in the CD3- subset as these cells became CD3-CD28+(bright). Despite the ability of PMA to induce high density CD28 expression in CD3- cells, CD3- thymocytes did not proliferate in response to PMA plus anti-CD28 mAb, in contrast to unseparated cells. CD3+ thymocytes stimulated with immobilized anti-CD3 mAb also failed to proliferate in culture. However, the addition of either IL-2 or anti-CD28 mAb supported proliferation, suggesting that only CD3+ cells could respond to CD28 signaling. The comitogenic effect of anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 mAb was IL-2 dependent as it was abrogated by an anti-IL-2R mAb. Interestingly, the expression of CD28 on the cell surface of CD3+ cells was also inducible, as flow cytometric analysis demonstrated a 10-fold increase in cell surface CD28 by 24 to 48 h after anti-CD3 stimulation of both CD3+ thymocytes and peripheral blood T cells. This increase was accounted for by a commensurate increase in CD28 mRNA levels. Together, these results suggest that CD28 is an inducible T cell antigen in both CD3- and CD3+ cells. In addition, stimulation of the CD28 pathway can provide a second signal to support the growth of CD3+ thymocytes stimulated through the TCR/CD3 complex, and may therefore represent a mechanism for positive selection during thymic ontogeny.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗