Open AccessMurine thymomas induced by fractionated-X-irradiation have specific T-cell receptor rearrangements and characteristics associated with day-15 to -16 fetal thymocytes.
Author(s) -
N. M. B. Amari,
Daniel Meruelo
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
molecular and cellular biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.14
H-Index - 327
eISSN - 1067-8824
pISSN - 0270-7306
DOI - 10.1128/mcb.7.12.4159
Subject(s) - biology , microbiology and biotechnology , thymoma , thymocyte , alpha chain , receptor , gene rearrangement , fetus , beta (programming language) , gene , gene expression , t cell , immunology , genetics , immune system , computer science , programming language , pregnancy
We report here that specific T-cell receptor rearrangements were observed in fractionated-X-irradiation-induced murine leukemias. Consistent gamma-chain rearrangements, limited beta-chain rearrangements, and no detectable alpha-chain rearrangements were observed. Gene expression studies revealed that, in comparison with normal thymus tissue, expression of alpha T-cell receptor genes was lower in the thymomas, beta expression was much higher but approximately equal to that of normal thymocytes, and gamma expression was significantly increased. After coupling these data with those from analyses using reagents against other surface markers, such as Lyt-2, L3T4, H-2, IL-2R and MEL-14, we concluded that the target T cells for fractionated-X-irradiation-induced transformation resemble fetal thymocytes from days 15 and 16 of gestation.