Functional and morphologic characterization of human T lymphocytes expressing the TCR gamma /delta |
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Authors: | Carlo E. Grossi Ermanno Ciccone Jan Zeromski Alessandro Moretta Lorenzo Moretta |
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Affiliation: | (1) Istituto di Anatomia Umana, Genova;(2) Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Genova;(3) Istituto di Oncologia Clinica e Sperimentale e Centro Interuniversitario per la Ricerca sul Cancro (C.I.R.C.), Genova;(4) Dept. of Immunopathology, Poznan, Poland;(5) Istituto di Istologia ed Embriologia Generale, Genova, Italy |
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Abstract: | A minor subset of T lymphocytes express a TCR composed of gamma and delta chains. This subset differs from conventional T cells for a number of phenotypic and functional characteristics. TCR gamma/delta+ cells simultaneously lack both CD4 and CD8 antigens. Cloning of CD4-8- peripheral blood lymphocytes, under limiting dilution conditions, revealed that they are homogeneously composed of cytolytic cells which efficiently lyse tumor target cells. Formal proofs have been provided that TCR gamma/delta+ cells are able to recognize antigens. For example, they proliferated in response to allogeneic mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC); in addition, MLC-derived TCR gamma/delta+ cells specifically lysed PHA-induced blast cells bearing the stimulating alloantigens. The selection of monoclonal antibodies specific for TCR gamma/delta molecules allowed to identify two distinct subsets of TCR gamma/delta+ cells. Both of these mABs, termed BB3 and delta TCS-1 respectively, induced specific activation of cloned cells expressing the corresponding antigenic determinants (as assessed by measurements of intracellular Ca++ and/or lymphokine production or cytolytic activity). Analysis of the distribution of subsets expressing different forms of TCR gamma/delta, showed that the BB3-reactive form is prevalent in the peripheral blood. In contrast, delta-TCS-1-reactive cells are relatively unfrequent in peripheral blood but represent the majority of TCR gamma/delta+ cells in tissues. |
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Keywords: | Cell-mediated cytotoxicity Lymphocyte subsets T cell receptor T lymphocytes |
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