Characterization of immature CD4+CD8CD3 thymocytes

Abstract
Previously we have described (Hugo, P. et al., Int. Immunol. 1990. 2: 209) an immature CD4+CD8CD3 thymocyte subset which is thought to be the counterpart of the CD4CD8+CD3 subset. In this study we show that the ontogeny of these two subsets is parallel in fetal thymic organ culture. Extensive phenotypic characterization of CD4+CD8CD3 cells reveals that they closely resemble CD4CD8+CD3 thymocytes being: HSAhigh, Thy‐1high, interleukin 2 receptor α chain negative, CD44, H2K+/−, CD5low, MEL‐14low/intermediate, CD2+, LFA‐1+ and MTS 35+. Finally, we show that the proportion of CD4+CD8CD3 thymocytes is highly variable between mouse strains.