Transcription of unrearranged t cell receptor ∂ genes in cd3- major histocompatibility complex-unrestricted cytotoxic cells

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Abstract
Transcription of the T cell receptor (TcR) δ gene was detected in clones and in enriched populations of CD3- major histocompatibility complex-unrestricted cytotoxic cells. The transcripts were derived, at least in part, from unrearranged TcR δ genes, as shown by hybridization to a synthetic oligonucleotide probe corresponding to germ-line sequences just upstream of Jδ1. Transcripts from unrearranged TcR δ genes are similar in size to those from productively rearranged genes. The fact that the bulk of δ transcripts was derived from unrearranged genes was supported by the observation that TcR δ gene rearrangements were not detected in DNA isolated from an enriched CD3- cytotoxic cell population. Transcription of the TcR δ gene in CD3- cytotoxic cells is consistent with the notion that these cells belong to a T cell lineage.