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Identification of αβ and γδ T Cell Receptor‐Positive Cells
Author(s) -
GEISLER C.,
LARSEN J. K.,
PLESNER T.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.934
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1365-3083
pISSN - 0300-9475
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3083.1988.tb01508.x
Subject(s) - t cell receptor , cd3 , cd8 , monoclonal antibody , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , t cell , antigen , immunofluorescence , t lymphocyte , antibody , immunology , immune system
Two lineages of T lymphocytes bearing the CD3 antigen can be defined on the basis of the nature of the heterodimeric receptor chain (αβ or γδ T cell receptor (TCR)) expressed. Precise identification of αβ and γδ TCR + cells is essential when studying the tissue distribution and function of these different T ceils. In immunofluorescence studies γδ TCR − cells have been identified as CD3 + WT‐31 or CD3 + CD4 − CD8 − cells. However, this may not be the optimal procedure because γδ TCR + cells are weakly WT‐31 + , and some are CD8 + . The aim of this study was to evaluate a panel of monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) directed against different chains of the TCR‐T3 complex for a more precise identification of αβ + and γδ TCR + cells in flow cytometric studies. We found that the MoAb anti‐Ti‐γA and δ‐TCS‐1, recognizing the TCR‐γ and the TCR‐δ chain respectively, only reacted with a subpopulation of γδ TCR + cells, whereas another TCR‐γ chain recognizing MoAb anti‐TCR‐δ1 reacted with all γδ TCR + cells. All MoAb reported to belong to the CD3 group reacted with both αβ TCR + and γδ TCR + cells as expected. Our results indicate that all γδ TCR + cells can be identified with the MoAb anti‐TCR‐δ1. Because no MoAb recognizing the TCR‐α or TCR‐β chains at the cell surface of intact cells are yet available, we suggest that αβ TCR + cells could be identified as CD3 + anti‐TCR‐δ1 − cells.