mAb R73 detects a T cell-specific surface molecule consisting of two disulfide-linked subunits of 40 and 46 kD, respectively, on 97% of peripheral rat T cells, as defined by the OX-52 marker. Of the few OX-52+ R73- cells, none are CD4+ but many express the CD8 antigen known to be present on rat NK cells. mAb R73 is mitogenic for unseparated spleen cells and for purified T cells. In the absence of non-T "accessory cells", stimulation by R73 requires artificial crosslinking of the mAb and is largely dependent on exogenous IL-2. Overnight incubation of purified T cells with crosslinked R73 mAb induces blastoid transformation, IL-2-R expression, and modulation of the R73 antigen. In the rat thymus, mature medullary cells express the R73 determinant at the same level as peripheral T cells, whereas 94% of CD4-CD8- thymocytes are R73-. The major CD4+8+ thymocyte population contains 25% R73- and 70% R73low cells. Thymocytes of the CD4-CD8+OX-44- subpopulation that are the direct precursors of CD4+CD8+ cells display a continuum of R73 antigen density from undetectable to very low levels. We conclude that R73 is most likely directed at a constant determinant of the rat alpha/beta heterodimeric TCR and suggest that CD8+ immature thymocytes are the first cells in the T cell differentiation pathway to express this molecule at their surface.
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1 January 1989
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January 01 1989
A monoclonal antibody to a constant determinant of the rat T cell antigen receptor that induces T cell activation. Differential reactivity with subsets of immature and mature T lymphocytes.
T Hünig,
T Hünig
Genzentrum der Ludwig Maximilians Universität, München, Federal Republic of Germany.
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H J Wallny,
H J Wallny
Genzentrum der Ludwig Maximilians Universität, München, Federal Republic of Germany.
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J K Hartley,
J K Hartley
Genzentrum der Ludwig Maximilians Universität, München, Federal Republic of Germany.
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A Lawetzky,
A Lawetzky
Genzentrum der Ludwig Maximilians Universität, München, Federal Republic of Germany.
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G Tiefenthaler
G Tiefenthaler
Genzentrum der Ludwig Maximilians Universität, München, Federal Republic of Germany.
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T Hünig
Genzentrum der Ludwig Maximilians Universität, München, Federal Republic of Germany.
H J Wallny
Genzentrum der Ludwig Maximilians Universität, München, Federal Republic of Germany.
J K Hartley
Genzentrum der Ludwig Maximilians Universität, München, Federal Republic of Germany.
A Lawetzky
Genzentrum der Ludwig Maximilians Universität, München, Federal Republic of Germany.
G Tiefenthaler
Genzentrum der Ludwig Maximilians Universität, München, Federal Republic of Germany.
Online ISSN: 1540-9538
Print ISSN: 0022-1007
J Exp Med (1989) 169 (1): 73–86.
Citation
T Hünig, H J Wallny, J K Hartley, A Lawetzky, G Tiefenthaler; A monoclonal antibody to a constant determinant of the rat T cell antigen receptor that induces T cell activation. Differential reactivity with subsets of immature and mature T lymphocytes.. J Exp Med 1 January 1989; 169 (1): 73–86. doi: https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.169.1.73
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