Two distinct antigens on chicken thymocytes defined by monoclonal antibodies

Two distinct antigens expressed on chicken thymocytes were defined by monoclonal antibodies designated as Lc-1 and Lc-2. Lc-1 (IgGl) reacted with 80% of the thymocytes (mostly cortical and medullary thymocytes) and Lc-2 (IgM) reacted with 40% of the thymocytes (mainly cortical thymocytes). Lc-1 reacted with 1% of the spleen lymphocytes, but the antibody was nearly nonreactive with cells from peripheral blood leukocytes, bursa and bone marrow. Lc-2 reacted with only small percentages of spleen and bursa cells, and with very few cells from peripheral blood leukocytes and bone marrow. This antibody reacted with a portion of concanavalin A stimulated spleen lymphocytes. When Marek's disease-derived T-lymphoblastoid cell lines were tested for their reactivities with monoclonal antibodies, Lc-1 reacted with none of the cell lines tested, whereas Lc-2 reacted with four of the six cell lines tested. Antigens recognised by Lc-1 and Lc-2 were first found in chick embryonic thymus on day 13 of incubation, after which the number of cells positive for Lc-1 and Lc-2 rapidly increased, reaching young adult levels by days 15 and 14 of embryonic life, respectively. Lc-1 precipitated materials with apparent molecular weights of 60 and 120 kDa from radioiodinated thymocytes.     

Quantitative analysis of tissue distribution of Ly10-like murine alloantigen(s) with antisera and monoclonal antibodies

Tissue distribution of non-Lyt1.1 ("Ly10-like") antigen or antigens encoded by short chromosomal segment differentiating B6-Ly-1a congenic strain from B6 strain of mice was studied by quantitative absorption of (BALB/c X B6)F1 anti B6-Ly-1a antiserum and by direct cytotoxicity of Ly-10-132-12-26 monoclonal antibody on lymphoid cell populations. Identical strain but not tissue distribution pattern does not allow to conclude whether antiserum and monoclonal antibody detect the same or closely linked antigens. Absorption experiments revealed the highest antigen content in the brain tissue, lower in testis and kidney, still lower in lymphoid organs and the lowest in liver and lung. Among lymphoid cells, bone marrow cells had highest absorbing capacity, followed by thymus, spleen and lymph nodes. Monoclonal antibody lysed almost 100% of thymocytes, 30% bone marrow cells and 10-20% of spleen and lymph node cells (both T-cell and B-cell enriched populations contained the same proportion of positive cells). Cortisone resistant thymocytes showed the same sensitivity as cortical thymocytes to Ly-10-132-12-26 antibody which is distinguishable characteristics of medullary thymocytes from peripheral T cells. Mitogen activated lymphocytes exhibited significantly higher expression of Ly10-like antigen than resting peripheral lymphocytes.     

T cell antigens and MHC determinants on rabbit granulocytes

A cell preparation, consisting of 90% granulocytes (polymorphonuclear leukocytes), can be obtained from the rabbit peritoneal cavity. These cells have some membrane antigens, similar to those characteristic of thymus cells (T₁, T₂), but they do not have the thymus antigen, RTLA. Unlike thymus cells, many polymorphonuclear leukocytes have Ia antigen, in their membranes. Heterogeneity of the cell population is indicated by differences in the number of cells affected by complement-mediated cytotoxic cell-kill with monoclonal antibodies, directed against T₁ and T₂ and with polyclonal antibodies directed against Ia.     

MRC OX-19: A monoclonal antibody that labels rat T lymphocytes and augments in vitro proliferative responses

A mouse monoclonal antibody, designated MRC OX-19, has been prepared that binds to virtually all rat thymocytes, T lymphocytes and a maximum of 2% B lymphocytes. Immunoperoxidase studies on tissue sections showed no reactivity with nonlymphoid cells in intestine, thymus, spleen and lymph node. The antigen recognized by MRC OX-19 antibody was identified by metabolic and cell surface labeling of thymocytes followed by immunoprecipitation and sodium dodecyl sulfate gel elec-trophoresis. It is a surface glycoprotein of M_r = 69000. When included in in vitro assays for T cell functions, MRC OX-19 increased proliferation stimulated by allogeneic spleen cells or the lectins phytohemagglutinin and concanavalin A. The antibody itself was not mitogenic and its stimulatory effect could be correlated with an increase in interleukin 2 production. Taken together the data suggest that MRC OX-19 could be the equivalent of mouse Ly-1 antigen and human T1 antigen.     

Deletion of alloantigen-reactive thymocytes as a mechanism of adult tolerance induction following intrathymic antigen administration

Direct injection of foreign antigen into the adult thymus is a potent route of antigen delivery for the induction of tolerance in vivo. In this report, we demonstrate that tolerance to C57BL/10 (H2^b/BL10) alloantigens can be induced in CBA/Ca (H2^k/CBA) mice by intrathymic (IT) administration of BL10 spleen leukocytes coincident with transient peripheral immunomodulation of CD4⁺ T cells using a depleting anti-CD4 monoclonal antibody. T cell receptor (TCR) transgenic mice (BM3.6; H2^k) expressing a CD8-independent TCR specific for H2K^b were used as recipients to facilitate investigation of the mechanisms responsible for tolerance induction by allowing visualization of events in the thymus following IT injection. IT administration of 5 × 10⁷ BL10 spleen leukocytes and concomitant transient peripheral T cell depletion in BM3.6 mice resulted in a substantial H2K^b-specific deletion of transgenic-TCR⁺ (tg-TCR) thymocytes which was dependent on the level of tg-TCR expression. IT deletion and the failure to export CD8⁺ T cells to the peripheral lymphoid organs correlated with the induction of tolerance to H2K^b; TCR transgenic mice that had received IT injection of BL10 splenocytes and peripheral T cell depletion accepted a H2K^b+ cardiac allograft indefinitely. Analysis of tolerant BM3.6 mice revealed that there were low numbers of CD8⁺ T cells in the periphery giving rise to a substantially reduced reactivity in vitro despite the fact that no donor cells or IT deletion were observed in the thymi of the majority of tolerant mice. These results demonstrate for the first time that IT injection of foreign alloantigen into an adult thymus results in the deletion of thymocytes expressing a TCR specific for the injected alloantigen and suggest that this is an important mechanism of tolerance induction following IT injection of alloantigen in vivo. Furthermore, analysis of tolerant TCR-transgenic mice suggests that IT deletion is not required for the maintenance of tolerance, and that peripheral mechanisms enforce continued hyporesponsiveness to H2K^b following transplantation.     

Monoclonal antibody to a human leukocyte-specific membrane glycoprotein probably homologous to the leukocyte-common (L-C) antigen of the rat

The monoclonal antibody (F10–89–4) described in this study recognizes an antigen which by quantitative absorption analysis is absent from human brain, kidney, liver, heart, erythrocytes, platelets and normal serum, but is present on spleen, lymph node, chronic lymphatic leukemia cells, bone marrow, thymus and granulocytes at a ratio of 1 : 1 : 0.8 : 0.3 : 0.3 : 0.1, respectively. Analysis with the fluorescence-activated cell sorter showed that 100% of thymocytes, lymph node lymphocytes, blood mononuclear cells and granulocytes carry the antigen, while 83% of bone marrow cells are positive. There was marked heterogeneity in the amount of labeling of thymocytes, with 3 major peaks. There was also heterogeneity of labeling of blood mononuclear cells and lymph node lymphocytes, with a weakly staining hump containing approximately 20% of the cells in the case of lymph node lymphocytes. Double labeling experiments demonstrated that the weakly staining cells of blood and lymph node were B lymphocytes, while frozen sections of thymus showed that the antigen was expressed most weakly in subcapsular cortical thymocytes, and most strongly on medullary thymocytes. Biochemical studies established that the antigen bound to lentil lectin columns, and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis studies using NaB³ H₄-labeled blood mononuclear cells established that the antigen was a major glycoprotein of lymphocytes, and that its molecular weight was in the region of 190 000 to 215 000.     

Chicken thymocyte-specific antigen identified by monoclonal antibodies: ontogeny,tissue distribution and biochemical characterization

Two monoclonal antibodies, CT-1 (IgG₁,χ) and CT-1a (IgG₃,χ), were prepared against chicken thymocytes. The antigen identified by these antibodies was found to be a glycoprotein with a major polypeptide component having an apparent molecular weight of 63000 and a minor polypeptide component of approximately 103000. Immunoprecipitation and blocking experiments revealed that the two antibodies react with different antigenic determinants of the molecule. Ontogenic studies employing immunofluorescence failed to reveal the antigenic determinants on cells from the embryo or embryonic yolk sac on days 3 and 6 of incubation. The number of embryonic thymocytes bearing the molecules detected by these antibodies increased from 6% on day 12 to 54% on day 13; the frequency of thymocytes expressing this glycoprotein reached adult levels (> 90%) by the 15th day of embryonic age. In contrast, the CT-1 and CT-1a antibodies reacted with only 2-5% of blood and splenic cells and less than 0.05% of cells from bursa or bone marrow of young adult chickens. In the quail CT-1 reacted with cortical, but not medullary, thymocytes, while the CT-1a antibody was unreactive with quail thymocytes. The surface glycoproteins detected by these discriminating monoclonal antibodies may provide an important discriminating marker for thymic lymphocytes in the chicken and the quail.     

Monoclonal antibodies to rabbit lymphoid cells: Preparation and characterization of a T-cell-specific antibody

Spleen cells of mice immunized with rabbit spleen and mesenteric lymph node (MLN) cells were fused with mutant mouse myeloma cells. Twenty-six clones which react with rabbit lymphoid cells were obtained. By membrane immunofluorescence, as analysed visually and by the fluorescence-activated cell sorter, one of these clones, 9AE10, produced an antibody that reacted with nearly all thymocytes (> 90%) and with from 46 to 78% of spleen, MLN and peripheral blood lymphocytes. Double-membrane immunofluorescence with the 9AE10 monoclonal antibody (MAb) and anti-Ig showed that 9AE10⁺ and Ig⁺ cells of spleen, MLN and peripheral blood were distinct and non-overlapping populations. Thus, the 9AE10 MAb is a T-cell-specific antibody.The 9AE10 MAb also reacted with most brain cells and with approximately 30% of bone marrow cells. Biochemical analysis of the antigen recognized by the 9AE10 MAb indicated that the antigen is a glycoprotein with an apparent molecular weight of 25,000. These data indicate that the 9AE10 MAb may be directed against a Thy-1-like antigen.     

Use of monoclonal antibodies in a study of the development of T lymphocytes in the human fetus.

A panel of monoclonal antibodies (OKT3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11) was used for the identification of T lymphocyte subpopulations in cell suspensions of human fetal liver, thymus, bone marrow and spleen. In liver suspensions of 8-16 week old fetuses and in bone marrow suspensions (12-20 weeks) less than 5% of lymphocytes reacted with either OKT3, 11, 4, 8 or 6, whereas the OKT10 antibody bound to, respectively, 35 and 86% of lymphocytes in these tissues. In liver suspensions of 17-20 week old fetuses, about 20% of lymphocytes carried either the T3, 11, 4 or 8 antigen and more than 60% of lymphocytes were OKT10+. The maturation stages in fetal thymus (11-20 weeks) are comparable to those in the post-natal thymus, with the exception that a substantial proportion of fetal thymocytes expresses the T3 and T6 antigen simultaneously. In the fetal spleen (12-20 weeks), 40% of lymphocytes reacts with OKT3. These OKT3+ spleen cells may be divided into two subsets expressing either the T4 antigen or the T8 antigen. These OKT3+/OKT4+ and OKT3+/OKT8+ lymphoid cells of the fetal spleen can be further subdivided into a T10+ and T10- subpopulation. These data suggest that T lymphoid precursor cells, reacting with either none of the monoclonal antibodies or only with OKT10, are generated in fetal liver (up till 16 weeks gestational age) and bone marrow. Further maturation takes place in the fetal thymus, but also to a certain extent in peripheral lymphoid organs such as the fetal spleen, as evidenced by the coexistence of a T3+/T10+ and T3+/T10- subpopulation in this organ.     

Use of a monoclonal antibody specifically non-reactive with T cells to delineate lymphocyte subpopulations.

Rat monoclonal antibody M1/69.16 reacts with a heat stable antigen of mouse commonly expressed in the majority of cell types in blood, spleen, bone marrow and thymus, including cells of erythroid, myeloid and lymphoid series. However, subpopulations of cells in lymphoid tissues can be identified which are non-reactive with this antibody using the fluorescence-activated cell sorter. All surface Ig positive cells seem to react with M1/69.16 while more than 96% of Ig negative cells in spleen and lymph nodes are M1/69.16 negative. Most cells (80%-90%) in the M1/69.16 negative populations in spleen lymph nodes and bone marrow express Thy-l. Thus, peripheral T cells are specifically non-reactive with this antibody. In contrast, approximately 95% of thymocytes react with M1/69.16, leaving a minor population which is negative. The negative population (5%) is enriched in cells expressing high amounts of H-2 antigen and those bearing H9/25 antigen which is specific for lymphocyte subsets, indicating that M1/69.16 negative thymocytes represent a specific subpopulation, possibly "mature' thymocytes.     

Monoclonal antibody to a human brain-granulocyte-T lymphocyte antigen probably homologous to the W 3/13 antigen of the rat

The monoclonal antibody (F10–44–2) described in this report recognizes an antigen which by quantitative absorption analysis is found predominantly on spleen, lymph node, bone marrow, thymus, granulocytes and brain, the amount of antigen on these tissues being approximately the same within a factor of 2 or 3. Analysis with the fluorescence-activated cell sorter showed that 29% of thymus cells, 61% of bone marrow cells, 95% of blood mononuclear cells, 98% of lymph node lymphocytes and 100% of granulocytes carried the antigen. With blood mononuclear cells and lymph node lymphocytes, there were two distinct peaks, with one peak labeling very weakly. Double labeling experiments established that the weakly labeled peak contained the B lymphocytes. Studies on frozen sections of thymus established that positive thymocytes were found only in the medulla indicating that the antigen appears late in T lymphocyte maturation. The lymphatic nodules (B lymphocyte areas) of spleen and lymph node appeared virtually negative on frozen sections showing that there was too little antigen on the B lymphocyte surface for confident detection by fluorescence microscopy. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel eletrophoresis of NaB³ H₄-labeled blood mononuclear cells established that the antigen was a major glycoprotein of the leukocyte membrane and that its mol. wt. was 105 000. This antigen shows a striking similarity in biochemistry and tissue distribution to the W3/13 antigen of the rat and is likely to be the human homologue of this antigen.     

Functional and biochemical characterizations of avian T lymphocyte antigens identified by monoclonal antibodies

Seven monoclonal antibodies (mAb) were used to characterize antigens present on chicken T lymphocytes and on natural killer cells by flow cytometry, radioimmunoprecipitation and by effects on cell-mediated cytotoxicity and mitogen-induced proliferation. mAb CTLA8 and 5 stained 73% of thymus, 44% of spleen and 51% of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL), respectively, and immunoprecipitated 65- and 45-kDa proteins from detergent extracts of ¹²⁵I surface-labeled thymocytes. Pretreatment of splenic lymphocytes with mAb CTLA5 and 8 in the presence of rabbit complement (C) eliminated the concanavalin A (Con A)-induced T cell proliferative responses. mAb CTLA3, 4 and 9 stained 43% of thymus, 36% of spleen and 18% of PBL, and immunoprecipitated 33–35-kDa proteins. Pretreatment of spleen cells with mAb 4 or 9 plus C reduced, but did not eliminate, the Con A-induced proliferative response and significantly reduced both major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-restricted and non-MHC-restricted cellular cytotoxicity. mAb CTLA1 and 6 stained 58% of thymus, 13% of spleen and 19% of PBL. mAb CTLA 1 and 6 immunoprecipitated a 65-kDa protein. mAb CTLA l and 6 had no effect on the Con A-induced blastogenesis and CTLA 6 caused no decrease in virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte and natural killer activity. These results indicate that (a) mAb CTLA 5 and 8 identify antigens on mature T lymphocytes that are similar in tissue distribution, molecular mass and function to the mammalian CD5 antigen; (b) mAb CTLA 3, 4 and 9 detect the avian homologue of CD8 antigen; and (c) mAb CTLA l and 6 identify the avian homologue of CD4 antigen.     

Ontogeny of alloreactivity in the chicken as measured by mixed lymphocyte reaction

Ontogeny of alloreactivity in the chicken thymus and spleen was studied in mixed lymphocyte cultures. Mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) to total major histocompatibility complex (MHC) (B-complex in chicken) disparity was first detected in the thymus of 16-day-old embryo and regularly detectable from the 18th embryonal day on. Small strain-specific differences in the strength and appearance of the response were, however, observed. MLR to class I MHC (B-F) antigen disparity was not detectable before hatching. Exogenous interleukin-2-containing supernatant added to the cultures had only a minor effect on MLR of embryonal thymocytes. In the spleen, MLR was first detectable in some strain combinations on day 3 and regularly found on the 7th day posthatching, indicating colonization of peripheral lymphoid organs by thymus-derived mature T cells. Our results show the association of phenotypic and functional maturation of chicken T cells. The ontogeny of alloreactivity can now be compared to the appearance of T cell receptor (TCR), CD4, and CD8-bearing cells in the thymus and peripheral lymphoid organs.     

Specific antigens of chicken thymus

Purified plasma membranes from chicken thymus and bursa cells were prepared and solubilized with sarkosyl (sodium salt of N-methyl-N-(1-oxodecyl)-glycine). Antisera to solubilized thymus plasma membrane (TPM) were produced in rabbits and the globulin fraction obtained by ammonium sulfate precipitation. Four precipitating antigens were detected in solubilized TPM by immunoelectrophoresis. Following absorption with chicken serum and bursa plasma membrane (BPM) immunosorbents, three antigens, designated T₁, T₂, T₃, were specific for the TPM fraction, and one antigen, T₁, was found in soluble extracts of thymus tissue. Absorption with isolated plasma membrane and whole cells indicated that the T₁ and T₂ antigens in solubilized TPM are associated with the plasma membrane but not expressed on the surface of the cell. A common antigen, designated BT, was detected in BPM and TPM fractions and in membrane preparations of spleen. The antigens were not detected in any other tissues or cells including brain, circulating lymphocytes and erythrocytes.     

A monoclonal antibody recognizing a human thymus leukemia-like antigen associated with β2-microglobulin

A monoclonal antibody, M241, was produced which binds to a human cell surface molecule with properties similar to the murine thymus leukemia (TL) antigen. This human TL-like antigen was found on thymocytes and some T cell lines derived from patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia, but was not found on peripheral blood lymphocytes or B cell lines. The monoclonal antibody M241 was used to immuno-precipitate a molecule from lysates of ¹²⁵I surface-labeled MOLT 4 cells which had two subunits, a 43-kDa chain and a 12-kDa chain. The small subunit was shown to be β₂-microglobulin (β₂m) by immunoprecipitation with a monoclonal antibody, BBM.1, which recognizes human β₂m. The TL-like molecule recognized by M241 was shown to be serologically distinct from the HLA-A, B, C molecules recognized by three monoclonal antibodies W6/32, PA2.6 and BB7.8, and distinct from another human thymocyte antigen, the 49 kDa HTA 1 molecule, recognized by the monoclonal antibody NA1 / 34. Following removal of the HLA-A, B, C molecules, the HTA 1 molecules, and the M241-defined TL-like molecules from MOLT 4 lysates, additional β₂m-associated molecules were immunoprecipitated with BBM.1. These molecules contained a 45-kDa subunit attached to β₂m.     

α6 integrins participate in pro-T cell homing to the thymus

During embryogenesis, colonization of the thymic rudiment by hemopoietic progenitor cells depends on the adhesion of these cells to the jugular endothelium. Previously, we showed that progenitor T cells (pro-T cells) interact with α₆ integrins present on vascular endothelium. Here, we demonstrate that anti-α₆ integrin antibodies reduced the number of thymocytes up to 80 % in a congenic mouse model for thymus colonization by pro-T cells. In organotypic thymus cultures, the anti-α₆ integrin antibodies did not influence T cell development and proliferation. From this, we conclude that α₆ integrin participates in thymus homing. During mouse thymus ontogeny, α₆ integrin mRNA and protein expression was found as early as day 10 of development; at day 11, perithymic endothelial cells were α₆ integrin positive. Two α₆ integrin mRNA exist which are produced by alternative exon usage. The longer form, α₆, integrin, predominates during early embryonic stages, while the shorter α_6A form was present later during development. Although α₆, integrins can be displayed by immature thymocytes, strongest expression was found on intra- and perithymic vascular endothelium. These data suggest that α₆ integrins are involved in the homing of pro-T cells to the developing thymus by mediating adhesion of pro-T cells to the vascular endothelium.     

Effect of estrogen and corticosterone on the lymphoid system in neonatal mice

Neonatal female NMRI mice were injected with varying doses of estradiol-17β (E₂), diethylstilbestrol (DES), or corticosterone (CC). All three substances reduced the body weight and the weight of thymus and spleen. On a dose level, DES was more potent than E₂ or CC. DES treatment resulted in pronounced degeneration in thymus cortex, reduced incorporation of [³H]thymidine in thymus and spleen, reduced mitotic rate in thymus, and reduced number of leukocytes in peripheral blood with a decreased percentage of mononuclear cells. Nine-week-old animals, injected with DES neonatally, had persistent changes in their peripheral leukocyte population. Cytosol fraction of thymus and spleen from 4- to 5-day-old females contained a DES and E₂-binding macromolecule with a sedimentation coefficient of approximately 4.5S and binding characteristics similar to α-fetoprotein. Autoradiograms of thymus after an [³H]DES injection did not show any labeling of thymocytes. The concentration of radioactivity in thymus and spleen after a single [³H]DES injection was very low and constant from 10 min to 4 hr after the injection, while a pronounced radioactivity occurred in uterus and skeletal muscle. A model is discussed for the estrogen effect on the lymphoid tissue in neonatal mice. The results underline the importance of studying the immune system in offspring of women treated with DES during pregnancy.     

Thymocyte emigration in the chicken: an over-representation of CD4+ cells over CD8+ in the periphery.

We have examined the emigration of chicken thymocytes after intrathymic fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) labelling in situ. In this paper we show that in young birds about 0.7% and 0.4% of thymocytes emigrate from the thymus to the blood and the spleen, respectively, per day. This suggests that, as in mammals, most thymocytes die within the thymus. At 3 weeks of age gamma delta and alpha beta T cells leave the thymus in comparable levels to their appearance in the blood. The phenotype of recent emigrants in peripheral tissues is similar to that of mature T cells. Interestingly, recent emigrants contain relatively much higher numbers of CD4+ and fewer CD8+ cells than is observed in peripheral tissues in a steady-state situation.     

Distinct subpopulations of thymus-dependent lymphocytes: Tracing of the differentiation pathway of T cells by use of preparatively electrophoretically separated mouse lymphocytes

Thymus-dependent cells from thymus and peripheral lymphoid organs were preparatively separated by means of free flow electrophoresis into various subpopulations which were defined in terms of θ (theta) antigen content, negative surface charge, graft-versus-host (GvH) reactivity, hydrocortisone sensitivity, cell volume and morphological details. Most thymocytes in the cortex have a low negative surface charge, high θ antigen content, are hydrocortisone-sensitive and immuno-incompetent. On the basis of electronic cell sizing this group consists of a large population of 90 μm³ cells (T₁) and a small population of 175 μm³ cells (T₂), the latter being less hydrocortisone-sensitive than the former.

A minority of thymocytes resides in and around the medulla and has high negative surface charge, a medium θ antigen content, is hydrocortisone-resistant and reveals low GvH reactivity. These cells are medium sized (125 μm³), electrophoretically bimodal (T₃ had a medium and T₄ a high negative surface charge) and on the basis of morphological criteria are metabolically more active than the thymocytes of low negative surface charge.

In the peripheral lymphoid organs, all thymus-dependent cells show high negative surface charge and have the lowest observed θ antigen content and the highest observed GvH reactivity. These cells fall into two populations of which one is 125 μm³ with lower negative surface charge and the other is 90 μm³ with a somewhat higher negative surface charge. These 125 μm³ cells (T₄), which morphologically resemble the 125 μm³ thymocytes, are less GvH-reactive than the 90 μm³ (T₅) cells, which seem to be resting cells.

On the basis of these data, a possible sequence of steps in the maturation of T cells was constructed as follows: in the cortex of the thymus T₁ thymocytes are transformed into T₂ and these develop into T₃ and T₄ thymocytes which have higher negative surface charge, lower θ antigen content and are in an advanced stage of maturity. After further loss of θ antigen these cells, which are in the medulla, emigrate into the periphery and are finally transformed into highly immunocompetent T₅ cells possessing the highest observed negative surface charge.

     

Studies on the differentiation of T lymphocytes in sheep. I. Recognition of a sheep T-lymphocyte differentiation antigen by a monoclonal antibody T-80

The results presented in this paper demonstrate that a mouse IgM monoclonal antibody (T-80) recognizes an antigen on cells of the T-lymphocyte lineage of sheep. However, this antibody does not identify all T cells, as 10-20% of thymocytes and some peripheral-blood T cells are negative. T-80- thymocytes reside in the medulla. The majority of cortical thymocytes are T-80+ and classified as dull cells on the basis of antigen density per cell as measured by flow microfluorometry. In contrast, T-80+ cells in the periphery can be categorized into two populations, i.e., dull cells and bright cells. Suggestive evidence was obtained that bright T-80+ cells are fast recirculating T cells, whereas dull cells are sessile or less easily mobilizable T cells in the periphery. In foetal environment, over 90% of thymocytes and approximately 5% of spleen cells are T-80+ at 54 days of gestation (gestation period = 150 days), which may indicate that T-cell emigration from the thymus commences well before mid-gestation in sheep.