Timing of deletion of autoreactive V β6+ cells and down-modulation of either CD4 orCD8 on phenotypically distinct CD4+8+ subsets of thymocytes expressingintermediate or high levels of T cell receptor
- 1 March 1991
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in International Immunology
- Vol. 3 (3) , 265-272
- https://doi.org/10.1093/intimm/3.3.265
Abstract
In this paper we describe a differentiation sequence amongst adult murlne thymocytes which goes from CD4–8–3lo(low) to CD4+8+3int(intermediate) to CD4+8+3hi(high) and then to mature single positive CD3hi thymocytes. Phenotyplc characterization of CD4+8+3int/hi cells for a number of other surface markers is consistent with them being In transition from CD4–8–3lo phenotype to mature phenotype. The same observation was made for sensitivity towards ionomycin-mediated apoptosis. In the thymus of Mls-1a mice, where autoreactive TCR-Vβ6+ cells are negatively selected, deletion of TCR-Vβ6+ cells was first detected in the CD4+8+3int subset, and was complete by the CD4+8+3hi stage, suggesting that up-regulatlon of the TCR/CD3 complex is required for deletion of Mls-1a autoreactive thymocytes. No sign of apoptosis was detected among any fresh thymocyte subsets suggesting that apoptotic cells are rapidly cleared from the thymus. The CD4+8+3int/CD4+8+3hi cells are therefore populations in transit from the typical cortical thymocytes to the mature T-cells.Keywords
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