Thymic reticulum in mice. IV. The rosette formation between phagocytic cells of the thymic reticulum and cortical type thymocytes is mediated by complement receptor type three

A phagocytic cell of the thymic reticulum (P-TR) with dendritic shape recently has been isolated and characterized. We have previously shown that P-TR have an important role to play in the constitution of the thymic microenvironment. Indeed, P-TR are able to produce interleukin 1 and prostaglandin E2, both of which regulate thymocyte activation and proliferation. They are able also to stimulate the proliferation of syngeneic thymocytes enriched in the medullary type. In the present paper, we analyze a close relationship which exists between P-TR and thymocytes of the cortical type. About 25% of P-TR are able to bind to thymocytes and to form rosettes. Rosetting thymocytes represent about 5% of the total population and are PNA+, Lyt 1+2+, H-2-, and sensitive to in vivo steroid treatment. Pretreatment of P-TR with anti-Mac-1, a monoclonal rat IgG antibody against mouse macrophages and specific for complement receptor type three (CR3), abolished rosette formation. Rosette formation also was found to be inhibited by zymosan-treated serum containing the CR3 ligand, C3bi, and by certain sugars, in particular, N-acetyl-D-galactosamine and L-xylose. Our results suggest that rosetting thymocytes bind to CR3 on the P-TR membrane and that sugar constituents of the carbohydrate moieties on the thymocyte surface may serve as a recognition site during the binding process.     

Mapping of the region of complement receptor (CR) 1 required for Plasmodium falciparum rosetting and demonstration of the importance of CR1 in rosetting in field isolates

The malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum induces a number of novel adhesion properties in the erythrocytes that it infects. One of these properties, the ability of infected erythrocytes to bind uninfected erythrocytes to form rosettes, is associated with severe malaria and may play a direct role in the pathogenesis of disease. Previous work has shown that erythrocytes deficient in complement receptor (CR) 1 (CR1, CD35; C3b/C4b receptor) have greatly reduced rosetting capacity, indicating an essential role for CR1 in rosette formation. Using deletion mutants and mAbs, we have localized the region of CR1 required for the formation of P. falciparum rosettes to the area of long homologous repeat regions B and C that also acts as the binding site for the activated complement component C3b. This result raises the possibility that C3b could be an intermediary in rosetting, bridging between the infected erythrocyte and CR1. We were able to exclude this hypothesis, however, as parasites grown in C3-deficient human serum formed rosettes normally. We have also shown in this report that rosettes can be reversed by mAb J3B11 that recognizes the C3b binding site of CR1. This rosette-reversing activity was demonstrated in a range of laboratory-adapted parasite strains and field isolates from Kenya and Malawi. Thus, we have mapped the region of CR1 required for rosetting and demonstrated that the CR1-dependent rosetting mechanism occurs commonly in P. falciparum isolates, and could therefore be a potential target for future therapeutic interventions to treat severe malaria.     

Studies on mouse autoreactive cells: I. Role of H-2 antigens in mouse autologous rosette formation

A minority (1–2%) of normal mouse lymphoid cells bind autologous erythrocytes and form rosettes. In this study we examined the antigenic specificity involved in the formation of such rosettes. A significant difference in the incidence of rosettes formed, respectively, with autologous and allogeneic mouse erythrocytes is found. Moreover, preincubation of lymphoid cells with low concentrations of syngeneic erythrocytic ghosts causes significant competitive inhibition of subsequent rosette formation. Allogeneic ghosts obtained from nonrelated or from congenic resistant strains of mice do not display this inhibitory effect under the same conditions. It is thus suggested that mouse autologous rosette-forming cells bear receptors for syngeneic H-2 antigens that are involved in the binding of autologous erythrocytes. More precisely, compatibility between lymphocyte and erythrocyte restricted to K or D only is sufficient to ensure a level of rosettes similar to that obtained when complete identity occurs for K, I, and D regions.     

Interaction between thymocytes and thymus-derived macrophages. I. Surface components participating in mutual recognition

Incubation of C57BL/6 thymus-derived macrophages (TDM phi) with syngeneic thymocytes resulted in binding of thymocytes to macrophages and rosette formation. Up to 60% of the TDM phi formed rosettes with thymocytes after 6 hr of interaction at 4 degrees C. Rosette formation of the immature PNA+ thymocyte fraction was up to fivefold higher than that of PNA- and cortisone-resistant thymocytes. Pretreatment of PNA- thymocytes with neuraminidase enhanced thymocyte binding to macrophages up to sevenfold, whereas a marked reduction of rosette formation was seen following (1) incubation of thymocytes with tunicamycin; (2) incubation of macrophages with 20 mM D-galactose, GLCNaC, or GalNaC; (3) treatment of macrophages or thymocytes with trypsin; (4) treatment of macrophages with anti-1-Ab mAb and its F(ab')2 fragment; (5) treatment of thymocytes with anti-Lyt-2.2 mAb; and (6) addition of EDTA and EGTA to the interacted two cell populations.     

Antigen processing requirements for T cell activation: differential requirements for presentation of soluble conventional antigen vs cell surface MHC determinants

The present studies were undertaken to characterize the antigen-processing requirements involved in the responses to T cells to soluble antigen (antigen specific), to allogeneic cell surface MHC determinants (alloreactive), and to syngeneic MHC determinants (autoreactive). T cell clones were used that have dual cross-reactive specificities either 1) for self MHC plus soluble antigen and for allogeneic MHC products or 2) for syngeneic MHC and for allogeneic MHC, in order to permit comparison of the processing requirements for responses of the same T cell to distinct antigenic stimuli. The proliferative responses of antigen-specific, Ia-restricted T cell clones to soluble antigens were sensitive to treatment of antigen-presenting cells (APC) with 125 to 250 microM chloroquine, a lysosomotropic agent previously shown to inhibit the processing of soluble antigens. In contrast, the same T cell clones were only minimally affected in their ability to respond to similarly chloroquine-treated APC expressing allogeneic MHC products. The responses of autoreactive T cell clones to syngeneic stimulating cells and their cross-reactive responses to allogeneic cells were both resistant to chloroquine treatment of stimulating cells. The failure of chloroquine to inhibit antigen presentation to autoreactive T cell clones suggests that these clones are specific for self Ia not associated with in vitro processed foreign antigen. Thus, chloroquine sensitivity distinguishes the in vitro antigen-processing requirements for presentation of the soluble antigens tested from the requirements for presentation of syngeneic or allogeneic cell surface MHC determinants to the same T cells.     

Human autologous rosette-forming cells. III. Binding of erythrocytes from different species to the T-cell receptors for autologous red blood cells

Spontaneous rosette formation in humans is restricted to a subpopulation of the circulating T cells. We have previously shown that the interaction between lymphocytes and autologous red blood cells (auto-RBC) is not mediated by a self-recognition mechanism, since allogeneic (allo-) RBC bind to T cells through the same receptors. In this work, we have extended these observations to thymocytes. Using a mixed-rosette assay in which one type of erythrocyte was identified by FITC labeling, we have shown that almost all the thymocytes which attached auto-RBC could also fix allo-RBC. However, as for the peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL), binding of human RBC to thymocytes occurred with varying affinities according to the erythrocyte's origin. In order to further study the specificity of the erythrocyte to lymphocyte binding in rosette formation, PBL were mixed with auto-RBC and erythrocytes of xenogeneic (xeno-) origin. Although very disparate incidences of rosettes were found according to the species from which the RBC were derived, most of the autorosetting lymphocytes also had receptors for xeno-RBC. In addition, preincubation of PBL with monoclonal antibody OKT11A (directed against the sheep RBC receptors on T cells) completely abrogated rosette formation with all the erythrocytes tested (human auto- and allo-, sheep, pig, and rabbit) except mouse RBC. Taken together these data strongly suggest that human auto- or allo-, as well as sheep or some other xeno-RBC, bind to T lymphocytes by a single receptor and that the combining sites are expressed with different densities or varying affinities depending upon the RBC's origin. Therefore, spontaneous autorosettes may represent T lymphocytes having high-affinity receptors for sheep RBC.     

Characteristics of spontaneous rosette formation by mouse lymphocytes with autologous erythrocytes

A substantial proportion of mouse spleen and thymus cells form spontaneous rosettes with syngeneic and allogeneic erythrocytes. Rosette formation is independent of the metabolic state of the cell: Inhibitors of ATP formation (NaCN, NaN₃) and of cell motility (cytochalasin B, colchicine, vinblastine) have little or no effect. Erythrocytes can be bound by living or dead lymphocytes. The stability of rosettes against high temperature and shearing forces is weaker than that of immune rosettes. The increase or decrease of electrostatic repulsion between cells will enhance or reduce rosette formation. Membrane proteins are involved in cell-to-cell contacts, since several proteases destroy relevant structures on the cell surfaces of lymphocytes, erythrocytes, or both.     

Effects of cytochalasins on lymphocytes: mechanism of inhibition of rosette formation

The mechanisms operative in the inhibition by cytochalasins of human peripheral blood T lymphocytic rosette formation with sheep erythrocytes remain obscure in the light of the multiplicity of biologic effects of cytochalasins. Moreover, we have shown the existence of three distinct classes of cytochalasin-binding sites (H-, M-, and L-sites) in such lymphocytes (J. Biol. Chem. 256:1290-1300, 1981). We have, therefore, explored the mechanism of rosette inhibition and present evidence that shows: a) Inhibition of rosetting is not caused by inhibition of glucose transport in lymphocytes; b) cytochalasin binding to the H- and M-sites, both integral plasma membrane proteins, is not involved in the effect; c) nonspecific partitioning of cytochalasins in the plasma membrane lipids of lymphocytes appears unlikely to explain the effect; d) evidence presented in this paper strongly suggests that cytochalasin binding to the actin associated L-site mediates the inhibition of rosetting. We conclude that cytoskeletal microfilaments play a critical role in the normal functioning of cell surface receptors for binding to sheep erythrocytes.     

Guinea pig and gerbil erythrocytes rosette with different cells in the blood, bone marrow, and thymus of the cat

Cat thymocytes, bone marrow cells, and peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) formed rosettes with guinea pig (GP) and gerbil (G) erythrocytes (E). In PBL from adult cats the frequency of rosettes was 27% with GPE and GE, while an average of 33% bone marrow cells formed rosettes with GPE and only 4% with GE. Thymocytes from kittens showed a high percentage of rosettes with both GPE and GE (35 to 81%), with the frequency of each type varying with the thymus tested. Fluorescein isothiocyanate labeling of one of the erythrocyte species revealed these cells to be rosetting with different nucleated cells; i.e., a low percentage (3-5%) of the rosettes formed with PBL and bone marrow had both labeled and unlabeled erythrocytes. In contrast, "mixed" rosettes were observed with a significant number of thymocytes, averaging 33% of thymocytes from six animals. A further distinction between the GE- and GPE-rosetting cells was revealed by a monoclonal antibody which blocked GE rosette formation without interfering with the binding of GPE to PBL and thymocytes. PBL could be depleted of either GPE- or GE-rosetting cells, with retention of IgG+ cells and cells capable of rosetting with the second erythrocyte species in the nonrosetting fractions. Stimulation of the latter nonrosetting fractions with pokeweed mitogen for induction of Ig synthesis revealed a T-lymphocyte specificity of the GE- and GPE-rosetting cells. PBL depleted of GE-rosetting cells yielded an increased Ig production, two- to threefold above the control; in contrast, depletion of GPE-rosetting cells from PBL resulted in a failure of the remaining cells to respond. These results suggest that T-suppressor cells of the cat are contained in the GE-rosetting fraction and T-helper cells are rosetted with GPE.     

Thymocyte and macrophage interactions: separation of murine thymocyte subsets and enrichment of syngeneic cell-responding thymocytes by adsorption to macrophage monolayers

The spontaneous binding of murine thymocytes to macrophage monolayers was employed to separate thymocytes into macrophage-unbound and -bound subsets, and the functional reactivities of these two subpopulations were examined. Macrophage-unbound thymocytes were found to be enriched in functional subsets reactive to semi-allogeneic and allogeneic stimulating spleen cells by proliferation in mixed leukocyte culture (MLC). Furthermore, macrophage-unbound thymocytes were frequently found to respond to syngeneic spleen cells. This syngeneic proliferative response showed both memory and specificity upon subsequent restimulation and thus seems to represent a syngeneic mixed leukocyte reaction (SMLR). Syngeneic responding thymocytes were also found to produce interleukin 2 when cultured with syngeneic but not allogeneic stimulator cells. In contrast, macrophage-bound thymocytes showed greatly reduced proliferative responses to allogeneic stimulators and no responses to syngeneic stimulators. The macrophage-bound thymocyte subset was not enriched in detectable suppressive activity; proliferative responses of macrophage-unbound thymocytes to either allogeneic or syngeneic cells were neither suppressed nor enhanced when macrophage-unbound thymocytes were added to the cultures. Thus, the macrophage-unbound subset seems to be enriched in functionally mature thymocytes and the macrophage-bound subset appears to be enriched in functionally immature thymocytes. This functional separation of thymocytes by macrophage adherence also correlated well with thymocyte subpopulations separated by bovine serum albumin density gradients; the low density mature thymocytes showed enhanced responses to both allogeneic and syngeneic stimulators, whereas the high density immature cells were unresponsive. This correlation was supported further by binding studies in which T cell tumor lines derived from C57BL/6 mice were used. ERLD tumor cells, which are similar to cortical immature thymocytes in both enzymatic and surface antigenic markers, were found to bind readily to macrophages, whereas both EL-4 and E male G2 tumor cells, with characteristics of mature thymocytes, bound to macrophages poorly. The binding of thymocytes and ERLD tumor cells to macrophages was not genetically restricted. We speculate that thymocyte binding to macrophages may play a critical role during the functional maturation of thymocytes.     

Rouleaux-forming serum proteins are involved in the rosetting of Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes

Excessive sequestration of Plasmodium falciparum-infected (pRBC) and uninfected erythrocytes (RBC) in the microvasculature, cytoadherence, and rosetting, have been suggested to be correlated with the development of cerebral malaria. P. falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein-1 (PfEMP1) is the parasite-derived adhesin which mediates rosetting. Herein we show that serum proteins are crucial for the rosette formation of four strains of parasites (FCR3S1, TM284, TM180, and R29), whereas the rosettes of a fifth strain (DD2) are serum independent. Some parasites, e.g., FCR3S1, can be depleted of all rosettes by washes in heparin and Na citrate and none of the rosettes remain when the parasite is grown in foetal calf serum or ALBUMAX. Rosettes of other parasites are less sensitive; e.g., 20% of TM180 and R29 and 70% of TM284 rosettes still prevail after cultivation. A serum fraction generated by ion-exchange chromatography and poly-ethylene-glycol precipitation restored 50% of FCR3S1 and approx 40 to 100% of TM180 rosettes. In FCR3S1, antibodies to fibrinogen reverted the effect of the serum fraction and stained fibrinogen bound to the pRBC surface in transmission electron microscopy. Normal, nonimmune IgM and/or IgG was also found attached to the pRBC of the four serum-dependent strains as seen by surface immunofluorescens. Our results suggest that serum proteins, known to participate in rouleaux formation of normal erythrocytes, produce stable rosettes in conjunction with the recently identified parasite-derived rosetting ligand PfEMP1.     

Suppressor T cells induced by soluble immune complexes can adoptively transfer inhibition of cytophilic antibody receptors on macrophages.

Immune complexes (soluble antigens of L1210 and antibody to L1210) when given to allogeneic C3H mice generated suppressor cells that inhibited receptors for cytophilic antibody on macrophages. Thymocytes or nylon-nonadherent splenic T cells (4 × 10⁷) from immune-complex-treated mice transferred this suppressive activity when injected into normal syngeneic mice. Maximal suppression of macrophages occurred 4 to 6 days after transfer. In contrast, even 5 × 10⁷ nylon-adherent, non-T spleen cells from immune-complex-treated (“suppressed”) mice failed to induce macrophage suppression in the syngeneic recipients. When T-cell-depleted “B” mice were used as recipients, neither thymocytes nor splenic T cells from suppressed mice were able to transfer suppressive activity. However, the admixture of 2 × 10⁷ normal syngeneic thymocytes with 4 × 10⁷ thymocytes from suppressed mice restored the latter's ability to elicit suppression of macrophages in T-cell-deprived recipients. Peritoneal monocytes from recipients of suppressor thymocytes (to L1210) could not attach cytophilic antibody to L1210 but could attach cytophilic antibody to EL-4 and sheep erythrocytes. Thus, suppressor T cells induced by immune complexes can transfer immunologically specific macrophage suppression (inhibition of cytophilic antibody receptors) to syngeneic recipients. The suppressor cells required the cooperation of normal T cells, suggesting either recruitment of suppressor cells from, or a helper effect by, the normal T cells, in order to produce their effect.     

Immunisation with recombinant PfEMP1 domains elicits functional rosette-inhibiting and phagocytosis-inducing antibodies to Plasmodium falciparum

Background

Rosetting is a Plasmodium falciparum virulence factor implicated in the pathogenesis of life-threatening malaria. Rosetting occurs when parasite–derived P. falciparum Erythrocyte Membrane Protein One (PfEMP1) on the surface of infected erythrocytes binds to human receptors on uninfected erythrocytes. PfEMP1 is a possible target for a vaccine to induce antibodies to inhibit rosetting and prevent severe malaria.

Methodology/Findings

We examined the vaccine potential of the six extracellular domains of a rosette-mediating PfEMP1 variant (ITvar9/R29var1 from the R29 parasite strain) by immunizing rabbits with recombinant proteins expressed in E. coli. Antibodies raised to each domain were tested for surface fluorescence with live infected erythrocytes, rosette inhibition and phagocytosis-induction. Antibodies to all PfEMP1 domains recognized the surface of live infected erythrocytes down to low concentrations (0.02–1.56 µg/ml of total IgG). Antibodies to all PfEMP1 domains except for the second Duffy-Binding-Like region inhibited rosetting (50% inhibitory concentration 0.04–4 µg/ml) and were able to opsonize and induce phagocytosis of infected erythrocytes at low concentrations (1.56–6.25 µg/ml). Antibodies to the N-terminal region (NTS-DBL1α) were the most effective in all assays. All antibodies were specific for the R29 parasite strain, and showed no functional activity against five other rosetting strains.

Conclusions/Significance

These results are encouraging for vaccine development as they show that potent antibodies can be generated to recombinant PfEMP1 domains that will inhibit rosetting and induce phagocytosis of infected erythrocytes. However, further work is needed on rosetting mechanisms and cross-reactivity in field isolates to define a set of PfEMP1 variants that could induce functional antibodies against a broad range of P. falciparum rosetting parasites.     

CD16 on human gamma delta T lymphocytes: expression, function, and specificity for mouse IgG isotypes.

We examined the expression, the signal transduction capacity and mouse IgG-isotype specificity of CD16 on human gamma delta T cells. CD16 is expressed by the majority of gamma delta T cells in peripheral blood and by part of the gamma delta T cell clones. The amount of CD16 expressed on gamma delta T cell clones varied considerably with passaging of the cells, but was always significantly less than on freshly isolated gamma delta T cells. Like CD16 on CD3- CD16+ natural killer (NK) cells, CD16 on gamma delta T cells can act as an activation site triggering cytotoxic activity. CD16+ gamma delta T cell clones exerted antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) which could be blocked by anti-CD16 mAb. ADCC activity of gamma delta T cell clones was also inhibited by anti-CD3 mAb, suggesting a functional linkage between the CD16 and CD3 activation pathways. MAb directed against CD16 induced lysis of Fc gamma R+ target cells by CD16+ gamma delta T cell clones. The mouse IgG-isotype specificity of CD16 on gamma delta T cells was analyzed using isotype switch variants of a murine anti-glycophorin A mAb in EA rosette assays, and was found to be identical to that of CD16 on CD3- CD16+ NK cells, i.e., highest affinity for mIgG2a, intermediate affinity for mIgG2b, and undetectable binding of mIgG1-sensitized erythrocytes. CD16 was partly modulated from the cell surface of both gamma delta T cells and NK cells after rosette formation with mIgG2a-sensitized erythrocytes, indicating that the rosette formation was indeed mediated via the CD16 molecule.     

Peak protein expression of IL-2 and IFN-gamma correlate with the peak rejection episode in a spontaneously tolerant model of rat liver transplantation

Spontaneous orthotopic liver transplant (OLT) tolerance occurs uniformly between the inbred rat strains of DA (MHC haplotype RT1(a)) into PVG (RT1(c)) despite a fully allogeneic barrier. Animals transplanted in this combination do, however, undergo a rejection episode which appears to be self-limiting. In order to clarify this further we under took in situ measurements of the cytokines IL-2, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha prior to, during and post rejection episode. The cytokine protein product was examined via immunoblotting assays and mRNA levels by RT-PCR. Comparisons were also made for syngeneic transplant combinations over the same time period. Peak protein expression of IL-2 and, to a lesser extent, IFN-gamma, occurred during the rejection episode between days 10 and 14. IFN-gamma was still present in syngeneic OLT on day 10 but was only present in allogeneic OLT on day 14. IL-2 was only detectable in allogeneic OLT on days 10 and 14. Transient increases in TNF-alpha occurred in allogeneic and syngeneic OLT with TNF-alpha levels falling by the peak rejection episode. Immunoblotting also confirmed the ability of hepatocytes to produce each of the cytokines studied. mRNA levels, by contrast, were maximal at days 1 and 10 for IL-2 and day 3 for IFN-gamma in allogeneic OLT when compared with syngeneic and non-transplanted controls. Earlier increases in IL-2 and IFN-gamma mRNA and time of peak protein expression do not correlate in this model. We therefore conclude that the measurement of peak mRNA levels alone are not enough to evaluate the rejection process especially since it is the cytokine protein products which have potential biological activity.     

The specificity of the syngeneic mixed leukocyte response, a primary anti-I region T cell proliferative response, is determined intrathymically

In previous studies, the syngeneic MLR of peripheral T cells was shown to be predominantly an I region-restricted function. In this report we show that adult thymocytes are also capable of responding to syngeneic irradiated stimulator cells in a syngeneic MLR, provided that TCGF is added to the culture system. Using this assay, it was possible for the first time to examine the pattern of I region restriction within the thymus itself. Analysis of the thymocyte syngeneic MLR in thymuses from radiation-induced bone marrow chimeras demonstrated that the MHC preference seen in the peripheral T cell population also existed in cells resident within the thymus. Experiments utilizing congenitally athymic mice transplanted with allogeneic thymic grafts demonstrated that both peripheral T cells and thymocytes from such animals displayed a strong preferential proliferation toward stimulator cells bearing thymic-type MHC determinants. The results in the nude model thus demonstrate that the thymus by itself is sufficient to impart such restriction specificity on a developing T cell repertoire. These results are consistent with the notion that the thymus exerts selective pressure on maturing T cell populations that results in a skewing of the T cell repertoire toward the recognition of thymic-type I region products, and that this MHC preference exists before expansion of T cells in the periphery.     

Intraspecific interactions in a scleractinian coral,Galaxea fascicularis: Induced formation of sweeper tentacles

Sweeper tentacles of Galaxea fascicularis have a different nematocyst composition than do ordinary tentacles. The sweeper tentacles contain many large microbasic b-mastigophores (MbM) instead of the microbasic p-mastigophores (MpM) which are abundant in the acrospheres of ordinary tentacles. There is, however, an intermediate type of tentacle which has both large MbM and MpM. These tentacles may represent those undergoing transformation from ordinary into sweeper tentacles or vice versa. Two polyps isolated from the same colony (syngeneic pairs), or from colonies belonging to different colour morphs (presumed allogeneic pairs), were set about 5 mm apart with tentacles touching, and then maintained for about two months in this position. Tissue fusion was observed only in syngeneic pairs. In some allogeneic combinations, one polyp of the pair was damaged or killed by the other. The dominant polyp developed many sweeper tentacles. In other allogeneic combinations, both polyps survived and no, or only a few, sweeper tentacles were formed. Tissue fusion also failed to occur in the allogeneic combinations.     

Surface antigenic analysis of rosette-forming cells in rat thymus--using monoclonal antibodies against T cell surface markers.

We have assumed that rat thymocytes capable of rosette-formation with guinea pig erythrocytes were double positive (CD4+8+) cells. Therefore surface-binding erythrocytes on rosette-forming lymphocytes (RFLs), separated in highly pure state, were eliminated by a hypotonic shock. The surface markers of RFLs, without surface erythrocytes, were analyzed by flow cytometry using two kinds of monoclonal antibodies (anti-CD4, anti-CD8) labelled with different fluorescence materials. About 96.2% of cells in the RFL population were sorted in two areas, into which double positive cells were separated. This result substantiates the assumption mentioned above. It was, furthermore, discussed that the RFLs without surface erythrocytes would be one of the valuable materials for disclosing the mechanisms of differentiation and maturation from double positive thymocytes to single positive ones.     

Studies on mouse autoreactive cells: III. Fetal development of autorosette-forming cells

Self-recognition assessed by rosette formation by lymphocytes with erythrocytes of syngeneic or autologous origin is a very primitive function that is present before lymphoid system development proper in the thymus. Autologous rosette-forming cells (A-RFC) have been found in the very early yolk sac of pregnant mice of 10–11 days gestation. Moreover, when these 10- to 11-days' gestation pregnant mice were subcutaneously injected with facteur thymique sérique (FTS) 1 day before A-RFC examination, it appears that FTS reduces the number of A-RFC in the yolk sac by 63%. Thus it has not been possible to determine whether FTS acted by changing the migration capacity or the expression of receptors on the cell surface.     

Human complement receptor type 1 (CR1) binds to a major malarial adhesin

Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1), a major adhesin molecule expressed on Plasmodium-falciparum-infected erythrocytes, interacts with several receptors on endothelial cells and uninfected erythrocytes. This 'stickiness', known as rosetting, is a strategy used by the parasite to remain sequestered in the microvasculature to avoid destruction in the spleen and liver. Erythrocyte rosetting causes obstruction of the blood flow in microcapillaries. Recent data suggest a direct interaction between PfEMP1 and a functional site of complement receptor type 1 (CR1; CD35) on uninfected erythrocytes. Consistent with the hypothesis that CR1 is important in malaria pathogenesis is a 40-70-fold increase in the frequency of two CR1 blood-group antigens (at least one of which might rosette less efficiently) in malaria-exposed African populations. Furthermore, structural differences in erythrocyte CR1 between human and non-human primates are probably explained by the selective pressure of malaria.