Abstract
Two lineages of T lymphocytes bearing the CD3 antigen can be defined on the basis of the nature of the heterodimeric receptor chain (alpha beta or gamma delta T cell receptor (TCR) expressed. Precise identification of alpha beta and gamma delta TCR+ cells is essential when studying the tissue distribution and function of these different T cells. In immunofluorescence studies gamma delta TCR+ cells have been identified as CD3+WT-31- or CD3+CD4-CD8- cells. However, this may not be the optimal procedure because gamma delta 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 alpha beta+ and gamma delta TCR+ cells in flow cytometric studies. We found that the MoAb anti-Ti-gamma A and delta-TCS-1, recognizing the TCR-gamma and the TCR-delta chain respectively, only reacted with a subpopulation of gamma delta TCR+ cells, whereas another TCR-delta chain recognizing MoAb anti-TCR-delta 1 reacted with all gamma delta TCR+ cells. All MoAb reported to belong to the CD3 group reacted with both alpha beta TCR+ and gamma delta TCR+ cells as expected. Our results indicate that all gamma delta TCR+ cells can be identified with the MoAb anti-TCR-delta 1. Because no MoAb recognizing the TCR-alpha or TCR-beta chains at the cell surface of intact cells are yet available, we suggest that alpha beta TCR+ cells could be identified as CD3+ anti-TCR-delta 1-cells.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Scandinavian Journal of Immunology |
| Volume | 28 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| Pages (from-to) | 741-5 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| ISSN | 0300-9475 |
| Publication status | Published - 1988 |