Preparation of both DNA and RNA for hybridization analysis from limiting quantities of lymphoid cells

CD4 and CD8 expression and T cell antigen receptor gene rearrangement in early intrathymic precursor cells

The earliest T precursor population in the adult mouse thymus, considered to have the surface phenotype CD4lo8-3-44+25-Thy-1lo c-kit+ (termed the low CD4 precursor), has been shown to have the capacity to produce B cells and dendritic cells, as well as T cells, and to have the T cell antigen receptor (TCR) C beta gene region in germ-line configuration. Because of evidence that this precursor population may have low levels of CD8 as well as CD4 on the cell surface, it was isolated, stained for surface CD4 and CD8 and assayed for the expression of messenger RNA (mRNA) for CD4 and CD8 by the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The low CD4 precursors gave definite, moderate levels of staining for both CD8 and CD4, in contrast to downstream precursors which showed only marginal staining and so could be considered as genuine CD4-8-3- triple negatives. The low CD4 precursor expressed a significant level of mRNA for CD4, indicating that the surface CD4 was produced by these cells. However, the low CD4 precursor did not express a detectable level of mRNA for CD8, suggesting that the surface CD8 was acquired from other cells. Since the low CD4 precursor population was found already to express mRNA for enzymes involved in TCR gene rearrangement, including in this study terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT), a PCR procedure was used to assay early precursors for D-J rearrangements at the TCR beta gene locus. However, the low CD4 precursor had the TCR beta D-J genes in germ-line configuration, D-J gene rearrangements being first detected several stages downstream in the CD3-4-8-44-25-+ precursor population. We conclude that a transient synthesis of CD4, but not of CD8, characterize these early thymus precursors. Although they have initiated synthesis of some recombination-associated enzymes, full commitment to the T lineage and TCR gene rearrangement is a later event.

Carrier-reactive hapten-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte clones originate from a highly preselected T cell repertoire: implications for chemical-induced self-reactivity

We have recently described trinitrophenyl (TNP)-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) clones from C57BL/6 mice specific for hapten-modified peptides bearing a TNP-lysine in a peripheral position, i.e. in position 7 of H-2Kb-bound octapeptides. CTL recognition of such determinants is always sequence-dependent due to co-recognition of TNP as well as amino acid side chains of the carrier peptide. By the use of glycine-based designer peptides for primary induction of CTL in vitro, we have identified two sub-epitopes on individual position 7-haptenated peptides that form two TcR contact points and which can be independently recognized by cloned CTL. One of these sub-epitopes is represented by the hapten itself, the other by the amino acids tyrosine and lysine in positions 3 and 4 of the carrier peptide, respectively. Immunization with such TNP-modified peptides frequently results in the specific induction of CTL also reacting with the unmodified carrier peptides. DNA sequence analyses of the TcR revealed an extraordinary similarity of several independent TcR of CTL from individual mice and induced with different TNP-peptides. These receptor similarities clearly correlate with structural elements common to the immunizing peptides and suggest their origin from positive thymic selection of TcR on Kb-associated associated self-peptides bearing Tyr in position 3. Our data provide additional information concerning the topology of TcR binding to peptide/MHC complexes with, but also without, TNP. They also indicate a mechanism which might explain the potential of chemicals or drugs to induce autoimmune phenomena.

CD3 delta and epsilon gene expression in CD3-CD16+ natural killer cell clones derived from thymic precursors

To better understand the maturational stages during T-cell development, we studied the expression of CD3 delta and CD3 epsilon genes, as well as the presence of TCR gene rearrangements, within CD3-CD16+ NK clones derived from thymic precursors in vitro. Northern blot analysis revealed that CD3-CD16+ clones derived from CD7+CD3-CD4-CD8- (TN) thymocytes expressed transcripts for the CD3 epsilon gene; however, no transcripts for the CD3 delta gene were detected. Importantly, both the CD3 epsilon and CD3 delta genes were expressed in TN thymocytes examined prior to cloning. A CD7+CD8+CD3-CD4- thymocyte population that makes up only 0.4% of the total thymocyte pool was also isolated from human thymus. We determined the maturation potential of this CD7+CD8+CD3-CD4- population by limiting dilution cloning and found that 67% of the clones generated in vitro had a CD3-CD16+CD8+ phenotype. In contrast to the NK clones derived from TN precursors, most CD3-CD16+ clones derived from CD7+CD8+CD3-CD4- thymocytes expressed transcripts for both CD3 epsilon and CD3 delta genes. Southern blot analysis of the NK clones derived from either thymic precursor population revealed no rearrangement of the TCR beta or gamma genes. These results demonstrate that the TN progenitor population and their CD3-CD16+ progeny differ in their expression of the CD3 delta transcript and during in vitro culture there is loss of CD3 delta expression and acquisition of surface CD16 within these NK clones. Furthermore, the CD3-CD16+ clones derived from TN versus CD7+CD8+CD3-CD4- thymocytes differed in their expression of the CD3 delta gene. The signaling events regulating the expression of the CD3 invariant chain genes within immature lymphoid progenitor cells may be important in determining their eventual maturation into T-cell and NK-cell lineages in vivo.

The role of duplication of tumour-derived chromosome 15 carrying the rearranged pvt-1 gene in the transformed phenotype of YACUT T-cell lymphoma × G4 T-cell line somatic cell hybrids in dictating the terminal differentiation program of the parental G4 cell

Fusion of the YACUT T-cell lymphoma with the Mls-1a-antigen-specific non-tumorigenic T-cell line G4 was previously reported to produce growth-arrested hybrids that could be induced to proliferate in the presence of Mls-1a antigen. The proliferation-suppressed hybrid lines exhibited phenotypic changes as follows: the usually high levels in YACUT of J11d antigen, IL-2 receptor, and c-myb expression, which are markers of immature T cells, were all down-regulated; the G4 T-cell function, i.e., contact helper activity for B-cell proliferation in T/B cell collaboration, was retained. Furthermore, fusion of the YACUT lymphoma with a killer T-cell line produced growth-arrested and tetraploid somatic cell hybrids having killer activity. Thus, in addition to the transformed phenotype (autonomous proliferation in vitro), the antigen-specific non-tumorigenic T-cell line genomes introduced into the YACUT lymphoma suppressed the immature phenotypes of YACUT and imposed their own programming of terminally differentiated traits on the hybrids. Prolonged growth of the proliferation-suppressed hybrid lines by repeated antigenic stimulation was previously reported to result in the appearance of transformed hybrids, which was accompanied by both a reversion of c-myc expression to the levels of YACUT and an increase in the number of chromosome 15. The present study revealed that the amplification of chromosome 15 resulted from the duplication of the tumour-derived chromosome 15 carrying the rearranged pvt-1 gene. However, the differentiated phenotypes of the hybrids remained mostly unchanged upon cell transformation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The surface phenotype of dendritic cells purified from mouse thymus and spleen: investigation of the CD8 expression by a subpopulation of dendritic cells

A new procedure for rapid isolation of dendritic cells (DC) was devised, involving collagenase digestion of tissues, dissociation of lymphoid-DC complexes, selection of light-density cells, then depletion of lymphocytes and other non-DC by treatment with a mixture of lineage-specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and removal with anti-immunoglobulin-coupled magnetic beads. This enriched population (approximately 80% DC) was further purified when required by fluorescence-activated cell sorting for cells expressing high levels of class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC). The isolated DC were characterized by immunofluorescent staining using a panel of 30 mAbs. Thymic DC were surface positive for a number of markers characteristic of T cells, but they were distinct from T-lineage cells in expressing high levels of class II MHC, in lacking expression of the T cell receptor (TCR)-CD3 complex, and having TCR beta and gamma genes in germline state. Splenic DC shared many markers with thymic DC, but were negative for most T cell markers, with the exception of CD8. A substantial proportion of DC from both thymus and spleen expressed CD8 at high levels, comparable with that on T cells. This appeared to be authentic CD8, and was produced by the DC themselves, since they contained CD8 alpha mRNA. Thymic DC presented both the CD8 alpha and beta chains on the cell surface (Ly-2+3+), although the alpha chain was in excess; the splenic DC expressed only the CD8 alpha chain (Ly-2+3-). It is suggested that the expression of CD8 could endow certain antigen-presenting DC with a veto function.

Basic fibroblast growth factor upregulates steady-state levels of laminin B1 and B2 chain mRNA in cultured neuroepithelial cells

The growth of purified populations of murine neuroepithelial cells isolated from 10 day embryonic (E10) telencephalon and mesencephalon can be specifically enhanced by supplementing growth culture media with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). One effect of bFGF on cultured neuroepithelial cells was to enhance the amount of laminin expressed at the protein level as detected by immunofluorescence. This was correlated with significant upregulation of steady-state levels of laminin B1 and B2 chain expression as analyzed at the mRNA level. When E12 neuroepithelial cells were split into precursor neuronal or glial subpopulations on the basis of differential expression of major histocompatibility class-1 antigens, only the glial progenitor fraction was found to be capable of detectable laminin synthesis. It is thus possible that a primary action of FGF is to increase the synthesis and release of extracellular matrix molecules from neural cells which act back in a paracrine manner to stimulate differentiation.

CD4 expressed on earliest T-lineage precursor cells in the adult murine thymus

A continuous but low input of stem cells or 'prothymocytes' is necessary to maintain T-cell development in the adult thymus, but the colonizing cell has not been characterized. Precursors of T cells have been found in the minor CD4-8- population of thymocytes, but even the earliest cells of this population already have partially rearranged T-cell antigen receptor (TCR) genes. We now demonstrate that the thymus contains a minute population of lymphoid cells similar in some but not all respects to bone marrow-derived haemopoietic stem cells. This population has TCR genes in a germline state. It gives a slow but extensive reconstitution of both alpha beta and gamma delta lineages on transfer into an irradiated thymus, with kinetics indicating that it includes the earliest intrathymic precursor cells so far isolated. Surprisingly, these cells express low surface levels of the mature T-cell marker CD4.

Biased accumulation of T lymphocytes with "memory"-type CD45 leukocyte common antigen gene expression on the epithelial surface of the human lung

Expression of alternatively spliced products of the CD45 leukocyte common antigen gene identifies two populations of blood T cells: "naive" T cells (containing CD45R-IV mRNA transcripts, CD45 220, 205 kD surface proteins detected with antibody 2H4) that respond poorly to recall antigens, and "memory" T cells (containing CD45R-0 mRNA transcripts, expressing CD45 180 kD protein, detected with antibody UCHL1) that respond promptly to recall antigens. While blood contains approximately equal numbers of "naive" and "memory" T cells, it is known that UCHL1+ "memory" T cells accumulate at sites of chronic inflammation. To test the concept that "memory" T cells are a feature of the T lymphocyte populations present in tissues chronically exposed to antigens in normals as well as in individuals with chronic inflammation, we evaluated T lymphocytes obtained from blood and the epithelial surface of the lower respiratory tract of normal individuals for the expression of specific CD45 surface protein isoforms and corresponding mRNA transcripts. Flow cytometric analysis of CD45 220, 205, and 180 kD surface proteins demonstrated that lung T cells of normals are dominated by UCHL1+ "memory" cells (86 +/- 2%) while autologous blood T cells have equal proportions of "memory" UCHL1+ and "naive" 2H4+ T cells. In addition, polymerase chain reaction analysis of CD45 mRNA transcripts revealed that the lung cells expressed CD45R-0 mRNA transcripts but 17-fold fewer CD45R-IV mRNA transcripts than autologous blood T cells (p less than 0.01). The pattern of lung T cells being dominated by CD45R-0 mRNA+, UCHL1+ "memory" T cells was also observed in individuals with chronic beryllium disease, an example of a chronic inflammatory disease in which antigen-specific T cells accumulate on the pulmonary epithelial surface. Like the normals, the lung T cells of the beryllium disease patients were dominated by CD45R-0 mRNA transcript+, UCHL1+, T cells. However, on a quantitative basis, the beryllium patients contained far greater numbers of T cells, i.e., the T cell populations on the surface of the normal and inflamed lung are similar in character ("memory" T cells) but differ in numbers (there are far more in the chronic inflammatory state). Thus, T cell populations on the epithelial surface of the normal lung likely reflect the chronic exposure to a diverse set of antigens, with a pattern that is qualitatively similar to that observed among T cells accumulating in response to a single antigen.

A murine early thymocyte developmental sequence is marked by transient expression of the interleukin 2 receptor

Precursors of all T-lineage cells are found in the population of thymocytes that lacks the CD4 and CD8 surface markers. These "double-negative" thymocytes are heterogeneous and can be divided into discrete subpopulations based on their expression of other surface markers. We have determined the relative maturity of these subpopulations based on the extent of rearrangement and expression of their T-cell receptor genes, their cell cycle status, and their thymus reconstitution capacity. Within the subpopulation of double negatives expressing high levels of the heat-stable antigen, the additional markers phagocytic glycoprotein 1 (Pgp-1) and interleukin 2 receptor (IL-2R) can be used to define the sequence IL-2R- Pgp-1+----IL-2R+ Pgp-1-----IL-2R- Pgp-1-, which occurs before the expression of CD4 and CD8. Transient expression of the IL-2R marks an important developmental point in the sequence just prior to a burst of cell proliferation and a loss of thymus reconstitution ability. The earliest cells in this sequence are already partially rearranged for genes in the C beta 1 region. IL-2R expression marks a second wave of T-cell antigen receptor of beta-chain gene rearrangement and the initiation of T-cell antigen receptor alpha- and beta-chain gene expression.