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Expression of T cell receptors by thymocytes: in situ staining and biochemical analysis.
Author(s) -
Cristanti A.,
Colantoni A.,
Snodgrass R.,
Boehmer H.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
the embo journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 7.484
H-Index - 392
eISSN - 1460-2075
pISSN - 0261-4189
DOI - 10.1002/j.1460-2075.1986.tb04577.x
Subject(s) - biology , monoclonal antibody , receptor , in situ hybridization , t cell receptor , microbiology and biotechnology , messenger rna , immunology , antibody , t cell , gene , genetics , immune system
We have examined the in situ expression of T cell receptor (TCR) V beta 8 protein in murine thymus during ontogeny using the monoclonal antibody F23.1. Positive cells were first detected at day 15 of gestation (0.6%). By day 16 the frequency of positive cells increased dramatically (4.18%). From day 16 to day 17 positive cells doubled (8.17%). The first clusters of F23.1 positive cells were seen at day 17. In the cortex, positive cells decreased from 14% in the newborn mice to 9.8% in 8‐week‐old mice, whereas in the medulla the frequency remained unchanged at 20%. The antibody F23.1, as well as an antiserum raised against the constant region of the beta chain, immunoprecipitated receptor dimers from highly purified Lyt2+, L3T4+ thymocytes and from two thymic lymphomas of cortical phenotype which express full size alpha and beta mRNA. The receptor dimer could not be precipitated from Lyt2‐, L3T4‐ thymocytes. The results are discussed with regard to intrathymic T cell repertoire selection.