CD1+ thymocytes proliferate and give rise to functional cells after stimulation with monoclonal antibodies recognizing CD3, CD2 or CD28 surface molecules.

The signal requirements for activation and proliferation of CD1+ thymocytes have been studied in order to define whether this immature cell population could function as mature T cells do. We found that CD1+ cells expressed high levels of CD25 antigen upon triggering with specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) (anti-CD3, anti-CD2, anti-CD28) in association with low doses of Phorbol-13-myristate-12-acetate (PMA). More interestingly, we described that in the presence of PMA CD1+ thymocytes proliferate upon stimulation with anti-CD28 mAb as well as with a pair of anti-CD2 mAbs, without the need of exogenous interleukin-2 (IL2), whereas they respond to anti-CD3 mAb only if exogenous IL2 was provided. Furthermore, CD1+ cells stimulated under optimal proliferative conditions, gave rise to cell populations capable of lysing natural killer (NK)-sensitive (K562) and NK-resistant (MEL 10, Daudi, EPA1) tumor target cells. These data strongly support the idea that CD1+ thymocytes, under appropriate stimulations, display some of the functional capabilities of mature T cells.