Selective expression of CD8α (Ly‐2) subunit on activated thymic γ/δ cells

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Abstract
Although most cells of the T cell receptor (TcR) γ/δ lineage are CD4−CD8−, some γ/δ cells express CDS. We show here that mouse thymic γ/δ cells express CD8 following in vitro activation by concanavalin A. Staining with monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies to the CD8 α (Ly‐2) and CD8 β (Ly‐3) subunits indicates that only CD8 α is expressed by these activated TcRγ/δ cells. Furthermore, immunoprecipitation and reduced/nonreduced gel analysis reveals that thymic γ/δ cells express CD8 α as a homodimer. In contrast, similarly activated TcR δ/β cells express a conventional CD8 α/CD8 β heterodimer.