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PubMed1990

Anti-CD3 antibody-induced activated killer cells subsets of killer cells that mediate fast or slow lytic reactions.

The present study has characterized two sets of alpha CD3-induced activated killer cells (CD3-AK). A 2 to 4-h 51Cr release assay or triton-treated 125IUdR release assay demonstrated that CD3-AK cultured in the continuous presence of alpha CD3 (CD3-AK+) mediated fast lysis. A 20-h 51Cr or 125I-deoxyuridine release assay demonstrated that CD3-AK cultured in the absence of alpha CD3 (CD3-AK-) mediated slow lysis. Activating the TCR-CD3 complex of CD3-AK- cells with alpha CD3 for 2 h enabled the killer cells to mediate fast lysis. The activation process was inhibited by H-7, a protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor. Conversely, removal of alpha CD3 from CD3-AK+ cell cultures for 24 h resulted in almost complete loss of the ability of CD3-AK+ cells to mediate fast lysis, but they still retained the ability to mediate slow lysis. It appeared that constant perturbation of CD3 by alpha CD3 maintained the CD3-AK+ cells in an active state, and thus, they were able to mediate fast lysis. On the other hand, activation by a 2-h incubation with PMA could convert the noncytolytic CD3-AK- cells to be cytolytic in slow lysis and to augment the slow lytic reactions mediated by CD3-AK- cell with low cytolytic activity. These results were confirmed by triton-treated 125IUdR release assay which could detect early DNA-release. Thus it appeared that activation of CD3-AK cells with T cell activation signals that bypassed TCR (such as PMA) could induce slow lysis. In the effector phase of lytic reactions, the fast lytic reaction was relatively resistant to inhibition by H-7, whereas the slow lytic reaction was susceptible to H-7 inhibition, indicating that fast lysis was PKC independent and slow lysis was PKC dependent. It was further found that H-7 inhibition was at an early stage of slow lysis, suggesting that a PKC dependent activation process preceded the PKC independent lytic process. These findings indicated that the CD3-AK- cells were in a less activated state which required further activation to turn on their lytic machinery to initiate the lytic reaction.

1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine↗
PubMed1987

Prostaglandin E2 inhibits human T-cell proliferation after crosslinking of the CD3-Ti complex by directly affecting T cells at an early step of the activation process.

We have studied the effects of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) on in vitro human T-cell activation induced by crosslinking of the CD3-Ti complex with the monoclonal anti-CD3 antibodies OKT3 and UCHT-1. PGE2 (greater than or equal to 3 X 10(-9) M) when added simultaneously with anti-CD3 to cultures of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), significantly suppressed, in a dose-dependent way, T-cell proliferation (P less than 0.002). However, when T cells were first preactivated with OKT3 for 3 days, subsequent proliferation driven by recombinant interleukin 2 (IL-2) was not inhibited by addition of PGE2. This indicates that PGE2 affects the activation step resulting from crosslinking of CD3-Ti, but not the IL-2-driven proliferative phase. Other manifestations of T-cell activation were therefore examined. Both IL-2 production and the expression of receptors for IL-2 (as detected with the anti-Tac monoclonal antibody) were inhibited by PGE2. The addition of purified interleukin 1 (IL-1) or recombinant IL-2 to the cultures did not reverse the inhibiting effect of PGE2 on IL-2-receptor expression. PGE2, added at the time of culture initiation, also inhibited T-cell proliferation in cultures which were supplemented with exogenous IL-1 or IL-2. Proof for a direct effect of PGE2 on T cells was obtained in experiments in which monocyte-depleted T cells were stimulated, in the presence of IL-1, with solid-phase-bound anti-CD3 antibody. Proliferation of T cells in this system is accessory cell independent and still was strongly inhibited by PGE2. Finally, preincubation of PBMC with PGE2 (3 X 10(-6) M) for 48 hr did not result in the generation of suppressor cells for anti-CD3-induced T-cell proliferation or for IL-2 production. Our results demonstrate that PGE2 has a direct inhibitory effect on an early step of T-cell activation, resulting in decreased IL-2 production, decreased IL-2-receptor expression, decreased responsiveness to exogenous IL-2, and decreased proliferation. However, PGE2 does not affect IL-2-driven proliferation of activated T cells. The inhibitory effect on T-cell activation is not mediated through suppressor T cells, nor through inhibition of accessory cell function.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[T cell antigen receptor--structure, expression and function].

T cell receptor complex is composed of at least 7 different polypeptides and is one of the most sophisticated receptor. There are two types of T cell receptor (TCR); alpha beta and gamma delta, both of which are composed of a heterodimer and associated with invariant CD3 complexes on the cell surface. T cells expressing alpha beta dimer recognize antigen-peptides in the context of self-MHC molecules, whereas the specificity and function of gamma delta T cells are largely unknown. Gene organization of alpha beta and gamma delta indicates the difference of mechanism to generate diversity. Whereas alpha and beta genes have a large number of V genes, those of gamma and delta genes are limited. However, especially for delta gene, the repertoire is largely produced by junctional diversity. There are increasing data showing new TCR heterodimers; such as beta delta heterodimer in human, beta homodimer in mouse and unknown new heterodimer in chicken, which are expressed on the cell surface in the association with CD3 complex. The characterization of these new receptor dimers and the function of cells expressing these receptors have to be determined. Among CD3 complex, zeta and eta chains are most important for signal transduction after antigen-recognition by TCR. eta gene is recently cloned and now found to be produced by an alternative splicing of a common gene with zeta chains gene. Tyrosine++ phosphorylation of zeta chain seems to be one of the earliest events of T cell activation. Since fyn, one of src oncogene family possessing tyrosine++ kinase function, is co-precipitated with TCR-CD3 complex, fyn seems to be involved in early phosphorylation for T cell activation. Positive and negative selection of thymocytes has been shown to occur via TCR using TCR-transgenic mice model. Molecular mechanism of the selection should be determined.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1998

Cooperative activation of TCRs by enterotoxin superantigens.

Staphylococcus enterotoxin superantigens are potent T cell activators. To gain new insights into the mechanism of T cell activation induced by these superantigens, we investigated the recruitment of signaling molecules in this process. Here, we show that enterotoxin superantigen activation can be transmitted to TCR-CD3 complexes that did not interact with their ligand. Indeed, by studying cells expressing two distinct TCRs, we found that enterotoxin superantigens induced tyrosine phosphorylation of TCRzeta subunits, the recruitment and tyrosine phosphorylation of the protein tyrosine kinase ZAP-70, and an increase in protein tyrosine kinase activity of both directly stimulated and unstimulated TCR-CD3 complexes. As the involvement of unstimulated TCR-CD3 complexes in signal transduction would increase the number of signaling molecules and, therefore, the efficiency of T cell activation, these data provide a novel explanation for the ability of enterotoxin superantigens to potently activate T lymphocytes.

Cell Line↗
PubMed1991

Endocytosis of the TCR/CD3 complex and the class-I major histocompatibility complex in a human T cell line.

We investigated the expression of the T cell receptor (TCR)/CD3 complex on a CD4-positive human T cell lymphoma cell line treated with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) and/or CA2+ ionophore using fluorescence flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopic analysis. PMA induced a significant decrease in the expression of the CD3 complex on the cell membranes. Fluorescence microscopy confirmed that the down regulation is due to internalization of the antigens. Ca2+ ionophore treatment had no effect on the internalization of the CD3 complex. Double staining revealed that the vesicles containing the internalized CD3 complex and those containing intra-cytoplasmic class I major histocompatibility complex antigen had similar distribution in the PMA-stimulated cells, implying coexistence of these two antigens in a cytoplasmic perinuclear distribution.

Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte↗
PubMed2003

Morphological, genetic and functional variability of a T-cell hybridoma line.

The variability in the morphology, modal number of chromosomes, TCR expression and functional reactivity of a CII-specific T-cell hybridoma at continuous subcultivation have been investigated. As the number of passages increased, besides the oval semiadherent cells (normal phenotype), fibroblast-like cells (transformed phenotype) were also observed. The two cell subpopulations differed in their karyotype characteristic, as well as in their functional reactivity. The cell population with a normal phenotype was characterized by a tetramodal number of chromosomes (30, 40, 48 and 70) and trisomies of chromosomes 6 and 14, while the cell population with a transformed phenotype was characterized by a trimodal number of chromosomes (11, 68 and 74) and trisomy of chromosome 12. A nullisomy of sex chromosomes was established in both types of cells. In the initial passages of subcultivation, 73.04% of the cells with a normal morphological phenotype expressed TCR-CD3 complexes on their surface and possessed high functional reactivity. After a two-week subcultivation, the values of these indices went down considerably: 46.11% of the cells expressed functional TCR-CD3 complexes, as a result of which their functional reactivity decreased. Only 2.71% of the cells with a transformed morphological phenotype expressed functional TCR-CD3 complexes on their surface. In these cells, a total loss of reactivity towards the specific antigens was established. The achieved results show that at continuous subcultivation the T-cell hybridomas are unstable, and with the increase in the number of passages there appear chromosome rearrangements, leading to loss of their functional reactivity.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

CD3-induced apoptosis of CD4+CD8+ thymocytes in the absence of clonotypic T cell antigen receptor.

Clonal selection of T cells mediated through the T cell antigen receptor (TCR) mostly occurs at the CD4+CD8+ double positive thymocyte stage. Immature CD4+CD8+ thymocytes expressing self-reactive TCR are induced to die upon clonotypic engagement of TCR by self antigens. CD3 engagement by antibody of the surface TCR-CD3 complex is known to induce apoptosis of CD4+CD8+ thymocytes, a process that is generally thought to represent antigen-induced negative selection in the thymus. The present study shows that the CD3-induced apoptosis of CD4+CD8+ thymocytes can occur even in TCR alpha- mutant mice which do not express the TCR alpha beta/CD3 antigen receptor. Anti-CD3 antibody induces death of CD4+CD8+ thymocytes in TCR alpha- mice either in cell cultures or upon administration in vivo. Interestingly, most surface CD3 chains expressed on CD4+CD8+ thymocytes from TCR alpha- mice are not associated with clonotypic TCR chains, including TCR beta. Thus, apoptosis of CD4+CD8+ thymocytes appear to be induced through the CD3 complex even in the absence of clonotypic antigen receptor chains. These results shed light on previously unknown functions of the clonotype-independent CD3 complex expressed on CD4+CD8+ thymocytes, and suggest its function as an apoptotic receptor inducing elimination of developing thymocytes.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Cooperative interactions of simian immunodeficiency virus Nef, AP-2, and CD3-zeta mediate the selective induction of T-cell receptor-CD3 endocytosis.

The Nef proteins of human immunodeficiency virus and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) bind the AP-1 and AP-2 clathrin adaptors to downmodulate the expression of CD4 and CD28 by recruiting them to sites of AP-2 clathrin-dependent endocytosis. Additionally, SIV Nef directly binds the CD3-zeta subunit of the CD3 complex and downmodulates the T-cell receptor (TCR)-CD3 complex. We report here that SIV mac239 Nef induces the endocytosis of TCR-CD3 in Jurkat T cells. SIV Nef also induces the endocytosis of a chimeric CD8-CD3-zeta protein containing only the CD3-zeta cytoplasmic domain (8-zeta), in the absence of other CD3 subunits. Thus, the interaction of SIV Nef with CD3-zeta likely mediates the induction of TCR-CD3 endocytosis. In cells expressing SIV Nef and 8-zeta, both proteins colocalize with AP-2, indicating that Nef induces 8-zeta internalization via this pathway. Surprisingly, deletion of constitutively strong AP-2 binding determinants (CAIDs) in SIV Nef had little effect on its ability to induce TCR-CD3, or 8-zeta endocytosis, even though these determinants are required for the induction of CD4 and CD28 endocytosis via this pathway. Fluorescent microscopic analyses revealed that while neither the mutant SIV Nef protein nor 8-zeta colocalized with AP-2 when expressed independently, both proteins colocalized with AP-2 when coexpressed. In vitro binding studies using recombinant SIV Nef proteins lacking CAIDs and recombinant CD3-zeta cytoplasmic domain demonstrated that SIV Nef and CD3-zeta cooperate to bind AP-2 via a novel interaction. The fact that Nef uses distinct AP-2 interaction surfaces to recruit specific membrane receptors demonstrates how Nef independently selects distinct types of target receptors and recruits them to AP-2 for endocytosis.

Adaptor Protein Complex 2↗
PubMed1990

Computer analysis of receptor-mediated endocytosis and exocytosis mechanisms: two pathways for the processing of TCR-CD3 receptor complexes of T lymphocytes.

A new mathematical model, based on a hypothesis in which two types of molecular complex which differ in their processing rate are involved in ligand binding at the cell surface, is proposed for the processing of ligand-receptor complexes. The model describes the kinetics of anti-human-CD3 monoclonal antibody endocytosis, exocytosis, and degradation by both normal and malignant T lymphocytes. The rates for the individual stages of processing of these ligand-receptor complexes are evaluated.

Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte↗
PubMed1999

Rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of Lck following ligation of the tumor-associated cell surface molecule A6H.

We have recently described the A6H antigen as a novel 120-140 kDa molecule which is co-expressed on human peripheral blood T cells and renal cell carcinoma cells. Engagement of the A6H antigen results in co-stimulation of CD4+ T cells but it remained unknown how cross-talk between the A6H antigen and the TCR-CD3 complex takes place and which signaling pathway might be involved. Here we show that ligation of the A6H antigen with mAb induces tyrosine phosphorylation of the Lck protein tyrosine kinase (PTK). Co-ligation of the A6H antigen with CD3 resulted in augmented Lck phosphorylation and mitogenesis. In addition, A6H ligation induced an up-regulation of CD3-mediated phosphorylation of the 23 kDa high mol. wt form of TCR zeta and the zeta-associated protein, ZAP-70. Co-precipitation of Lck and ZAP-70 was only seen in T cells activated by combined A6H and anti-CD3 stimulation. In contrast, another Src family PTK, Fyn, was not affected by A6H ligation. In conclusion, we now demonstrate, for the first time, that A6H ligation triggers Lck phosphorylation, and that cross-talk between A6H and the TCR-CD3 complex involves Lck, ZAP-70 and the slow migrating isoform of TCR zeta. These results further suggests that A6H ligation is sufficient for triggering some of the early events in T cell activation, whereas full activation of the T cell, characterized by proliferation and cytokine production, requires co-ligation of the TCR-CD3 complex.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗
PubMed1992

Biochemical evidence of the physical association of the majority of CD3 delta chains with the accessory/co-receptor molecules CD4 and CD8 on nonactivated T lymphocytes.

The association of components of the CD3 complex with the accessory molecules CD4 and CD8 was studied by immunoprecipitation experiments followed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis. Enhanced surface iodination was achieved by a water-soluble derivative of the Bolton-Hunter reagent. Using freshly isolated nonactivated splenic T cells, we find that antibodies to CD4 and to CD8 strongly co-precipitate a 28-30-kDa band identical in mobility to the delta chain of the CD3 complex. Components corresponding in mobility to the epsilon and gamma chains of the CD3 complex are also co-precipitated but to a much lesser extent. The identity of the co-precipitated 28-30-kDa material with the CD3 delta chain was ascertained by two-dimensional nonreducing/reducing SDS-PAGE, by two-dimensional non-equilibrium pH gradient electrophoresis/SDS-PAGE and by one-dimensional peptide mapping with three different proteases. The co-precipitated 28-30-kDa material was identical to the CD3 delta chain by all these criteria. Quantitative analyses by densitometric gel tracing revealed that the amounts of CD3 delta co-precipitated with anti-CD4 and anti-CD8 add up to those in anti-V beta precipitates and to an average of 90% of those in anti-CD3 epsilon precipitates. We conclude that the majority of CD3 delta chains are associated with the accessory/co-receptor molecules CD4 or CD8 on resting T cells, and that this association is independent of antigen-specific recognition by the T cell receptor.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

The CD3 chains of the T cell antigen receptor associate with the ZAP-70 tyrosine kinase and are tyrosine phosphorylated after receptor stimulation.

Recent work indicates that signaling events resulting from stimulation of the T cell antigen receptor (TCR) can be initiated by the CD3 complex (gamma, delta, epsilon) as well as the zeta chains of the receptor. To help characterize the signaling function of CD3 we examined its associated tyrosine kinase activity since induction of tyrosine phosphorylation is one of the earliest signaling events. Our results indicate that at least two kinases, lck and ZAP-70, contribute to the CD3-associated kinase activity. A likely target of this activity is the CD3 complex itself since we observed that TCR stimulation resulted in rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of the CD3 epsilon and delta chains. To examine the function of the CD3 epsilon chain in particular, we constructed a chimera that fused the extracellular and transmembrane domains of CD8 to the cytoplasmic domain of CD3 epsilon. This chimera demonstrated that CD3 epsilon was independently capable of associating with proteins having tyrosine kinase activity, including ZAP-70. Our results show that the kinase activity that associates with the CD3 complex has characteristics that are quite similar to the previously characterized zeta-associated kinase activity. This finding suggests that both these components of the TCR initiate signaling events using a common mechanism. However, differences in their signaling function could result from recognition of distinct substrates.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1989

Precursor frequency of human T4 cells responding to stimulation through the CD3 molecular complex: role of various cytokines in promoting growth and IL2 production.

The frequency of human T4 cells induced to grow and produce IL2 in response to the anti-CD3 mAb, 64.1, was examined. T4 cells were cultured at limiting dilution and stimulated with either soluble or immobilized 64.1 in the presence of various cytokines and/or irradiated B lymphoblastoid cells as accessory cells (AC). The frequency of responding cells was assessed by examining wells microscopically for visible growth and supernatants for IL2. Immobilized, but not soluble, 64.1 was able to induce T4 cells to grow in the complete absence of AC, but only when exogenous cytokines were present. IL2 was most effective at supporting T4 cell growth in this system, with a mean of 26.0 +/- 3.8% of immobilized 64.1-activated T4 cells generating a colony in cultures supplemented with IL2. IL4 could also support the growth of immobilized 64.1-activated T4 cells, but the frequency of responding cells was much lower (3.7 +/- 0.9%). The combination of IL2 and IL4 was not more effective than IL2 alone. TNF alpha, IL1 beta, and IL6 were unable to support T4 cell growth alone, but each increased the frequency of T4 cells responding in the presence of IL2. AC could support the growth of a small number of 64.1-stimulated T4 cells in the absence of exogenous IL2 and enhanced the frequency of T4 cells responding to immobilized 64.1 in the presence of IL2. The percentage of immobilized 64.1-stimulated T4 cells producing IL2 was also examined. Immobilized 64.1 stimulated less than 1.4 in 1000 T4 cells to produce IL2 in the absence of AC and neither IL4 nor TNF alpha enhanced this response. Fixed AC and IL1 beta, on the other hand, caused a small increase in the frequency of immobilized 64.1-activated T4 cells that secreted IL2. The frequency of T4 cells stimulated to produce IL2 by immobilized 64.1 was greatly enhanced by the addition of AC. The data indicate that in the absence of AC, a stimulatory matrix of immobilized 64.1 is sufficient for some T4 cells to be activated to become IL2 or IL4 responsive and for a smaller percentage to secrete IL2. Additional T4 cells require IL1 beta, TNF alpha, IL6, or AC to become IL2 responsive, whereas only IL1 beta and AC can promote IL2 production. In the presence of AC, the amount of cytokine produced endogenously appears to be sufficient to sustain the growth of some T4 cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1993

TCR isoform containing the Fc receptor gamma chain exhibits structural and functional differences from isoform containing CD3 zeta.

The structure and function of the TCR-CD3 complex containing a homodimer of the gamma chain of the high affinity receptor for IgE (FcR gamma) (FcR gamma+ TCR) was investigated by transfecting the FcR gamma gene into a CD3 zeta-, CD3 eta-, FcR gamma- T cell line. Introduction of FcR gamma, as well as CD3 zeta, induced a high expression of the TCR-CD3 complex on the cell surface. Transfected FcR gamma formed a homodimer and associated firmly with the TCR alpha beta dimer but only weakly with the CD3 gamma delta epsilon. Stimulation of both FcR gamma and CD3 zeta transfectants by antibodies against TCR or CD3 induced accumulation of inositol phosphates, the Ca2+ response, IL-2 production, and growth inhibition. On the other hand, antigen stimulation of transfectants expressing FcR gamma as well as CD3 zeta induced IL-2 production, but only the latter exhibited the antigen-induced growth inhibition. In vitro kinase assay suggested that the CD3 zeta dimer but not the FcR gamma dimer associates with the Fyn kinase. These results indicate that the FcR gamma homodimer is able to form a functional TCR complex but that the mode of assembly and the signaling function of FcR gamma+ TCR, including its association with tyrosine kinase(s), may differ from the TCR-CD3 complex containing CD3 zeta homodimers (zeta+ TCR). This provides an example which illustrates that different TCR isoforms mediate distinct signals and functions.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

T lymphocyte development in the absence of CD3 epsilon or CD3 gamma delta epsilon zeta.

CD3 gamma, delta, epsilon, and zeta proteins together with the pre-TCR alpha-chain (pT alpha) and a rearranged TCR beta-chain assemble to form the pre-TCR that controls the double negative (DN) to double positive (DP) stages of thymopoiesis. The CD3 proteins are expressed before pT alpha and TCR beta-chains in prothymocytes and are expressed intracellularly in precursor NK cells, suggesting that the CD3 complex may function independent of pT alpha and TCR beta. In this report, both the role of CD3 epsilon exclusively, and the role of CD3 proteins collectively, in thymocyte and NK cell development were examined. In a mouse strain termed E delta P, a neomycin cassette inserted within the CD3 epsilon promoter abolishes CD3 epsilon and delta expression and also abolishes CD3 gamma expression in all but a small minority (< or =1%) of prothymocytes. These prothymocytes became deficient in CD3 epsilon alone upon reconstitution of CD3 delta expression and were severely, but not completely, arrested at the DN stage, as small numbers of double positive thymocytes were detected. In de facto CD3 gamma delta epsilon zeta(null) mice generated by crossing the epsilon delta P mice with CD3 zeta-/- mice, thymopoiesis were arrested at the CD44-CD25+ DN stage as observed in RAG-/- mice, DJ and VDJ recombination at the TCR beta locus was functional, and normal numbers of NK cells were detected. Together, the findings demonstrate that during thymocyte development, the CD3 complex collectively is not essential until the critical CD44-CD25+ DN stage in which pre-TCR begins to function, whereas CD3 epsilon is critical for the assembly of pre-TCR. Moreover, CD3 proteins are dispensable for NK cell development.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Maturation of medullary thymic epithelium requires thymocytes expressing fully assembled CD3-TCR complexes.

Unlike medullary thymic epithelial cells (TEC) of normal mice, medullary TEC of TCR- SCID mice are immature and disorganized. In order to assess directly the role of TCR+ cells in the development of medullary TEC, we bred mice which co-expressed the SCID genetic defect and transgenes encoding clonotypic TCR chains. Immunohistologic examination revealed that medullary thymic epithelial cells from TCR beta transgenic SCID mice, whose thymocytes only express TCR beta chains that inefficiently associate with CD3 and zeta components, remained immature and disorganized. In contrast, medullary TEC from TCR alpha beta transgenic SCID mice, whose thymocytes express fully assembled CD3-zeta-TCR alpha beta complexes were mature and organized. Interestingly, the ability of TCR alpha beta(+)-zeta(+)-CD3+ thymocytes to induce maturation of medullary TEC appeared not to be related to the antigen specificity of the TCR as thymi from positively selecting, negatively selecting and non-selecting TCR alpha beta transgenic SCID mice all possessed induced medullary thymic epithelial cells. In addition, we found that induction of medullary TEC cells was associated with the presence of medullary thymocytes, including those of the CD4-CD8- TCR alpha beta+ phenotype. The present findings demonstrate that fully assembled CD3-zeta-TCR complexes are required to induce maturation of medullary thymic epithelial cells and indicate that thymocyte induction of medullary thymic epithelial cells may result from signaling independently of their clonotypic TCR chains.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

CD45 up-regulation during lymphocyte maturation.

CD4+ CD8+ double-positive thymocytes differentiate into CD4+ and CD8+ single-positive T cells during thymic positive selection. This process requires the interaction between the TCR and self MHC molecules. In this context we have analyzed the expression of CD45, an abundant transmembrane protein tyrosine phosphatase, and describe here its differential surface expression during T cell maturation. Using four-color FACS analysis of thymocytes from normal as well as TCR-transgenic mice we demonstrate that CD45 is up-regulated only during positive selection concomitantly with the TCR-CD3 complex and the transient early activation marker CD69, but that this up-regulation precedes heat stable antigen down-regulation. The tight linkage of the up-regulation of the TCR-CD3 complex and CD45 may be required because the CD45 tyrosine phosphatase plays a role in modulating signal transduction by the TCR-CD3 complex during positive selection. In addition, our findings argue for a regulation mechanism that adapts the CD45 levels to increasing antigen receptor levels on mature T cells and B cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Genomic organization of the T cell receptor.

A majority of T cells recognize antigens by means of a T cell receptor (TcR) composed of either alpha-beta (alpha beta) or gamma-delta (gamma delta) chains. These TcR genes are members of the immunoglobulin gene superfamily. This family includes the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes, whose products are essential for recognitions of foreign antigens by the TcR. This phenomenon is known as MHC restriction. All the TcR chains have similar protein structures consisting of extracellular variable and constant domains, intracellular cytoplasmic tails, and a hydrophobic transmembrane region with several potential N-linked glycosylation sites. On the cell surface, the TcR heterodimers are found to be associated with the CD3 complex. This CD3 complex which is composed of at lease four chains (CD3 gamma, CD3 delta, CD3 epsilon, and CD3 zeta) is thought to be responsible for the transduction of antigen-binding signal through the cell membrane to facilitate the appropriate T cell function. The germline TcR genes are composed of noncontiguous variable (V), diversity (D), joining (J), and constant (C) gene segments. During T cell ontogeny, these VDJ or VJ gene segments rearrange to form a TcR gene encoding a unique variable domain, which is then joined to the C region sequences by RNA splicing following transcription. This process of rearrangement allows the generation of large numbers of new and unique TcR genomic structures, before a primary transcript can be made. In this review article, we summarize the recent findings on the genomic organization of these TcR genes in both the human and murine systems.

Animals↗