Interleukin 4 induces CD8α expression on T cell receptor Vγ5 thymocytes

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Abstract
It is generally accepted that most T cell receptor (TcR) γ/δ cells are CD4−CD8−. After in vitro culture; however, a low percentage of these cells express the CD8 α subunit. We show here that addition of recombinant interleukin (IL) 4 to IL 2‐cultured murine TcR Vγ5 thymocytes induces the expression of CD8α; CD8β is not expressed. Co‐addition of the anti‐IL 4 mAb 11B11 abrogates the induction of CD8 α expression, ruling out the possibility of a contaminant. Furthermore, we demonstrate that a substantial part of freshly prepared TcR Vγ5 thymocytes express CD8 α.