Biotherapy

, Volume 5, Issue 1, pp 1–9 | Cite as

Functional and morphologic characterization of human T lymphocytes expressing the TCR gamma /delta

  • Carlo E. Grossi
  • Ermanno Ciccone
  • Jan Zeromski
  • Alessandro Moretta
  • Lorenzo Moretta
Article
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Abstract

A minor subset of T lymphocytes express a TCR composed of gamma and delta chains. This subset differs from conventional T cells for a number of phenotypic and functional characteristics. TCR gamma/delta+ cells simultaneously lack both CD4 and CD8 antigens. Cloning of CD4-8- peripheral blood lymphocytes, under limiting dilution conditions, revealed that they are homogeneously composed of cytolytic cells which efficiently lyse tumor target cells. Formal proofs have been provided that TCR gamma/delta+ cells are able to recognize antigens. For example, they proliferated in response to allogeneic mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC); in addition, MLC-derived TCR gamma/delta+ cells specifically lysed PHA-induced blast cells bearing the stimulating alloantigens. The selection of monoclonal antibodies specific for TCR gamma/delta molecules allowed to identify two distinct subsets of TCR gamma/delta+ cells. Both of these mABs, termed BB3 and delta TCS-1 respectively, induced specific activation of cloned cells expressing the corresponding antigenic determinants (as assessed by measurements of intracellular Ca++ and/or lymphokine production or cytolytic activity). Analysis of the distribution of subsets expressing different forms of TCR gamma/delta, showed that the BB3-reactive form is prevalent in the peripheral blood. In contrast, delta-TCS-1-reactive cells are relatively unfrequent in peripheral blood but represent the majority of TCR gamma/delta+ cells in tissues.

Key words

Cell-mediated cytotoxicity Lymphocyte subsets T cell receptor T lymphocytes 

Abbreviations

LGL

large granular lymphocytes

MAb

monoclonal antibody

MALT

mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue

TCR

T cell receptor

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Copyright information

© Kluwer Academic Publishers 1992

Authors and Affiliations

  • Carlo E. Grossi
    • 1
  • Ermanno Ciccone
    • 2
  • Jan Zeromski
    • 4
  • Alessandro Moretta
    • 5
  • Lorenzo Moretta
    • 3
  1. 1.Istituto di Anatomia UmanaGenova
  2. 2.Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul CancroGenova
  3. 3.Istituto di Oncologia Clinica e Sperimentale e Centro Interuniversitario per la Ricerca sul Cancro (C.I.R.C.)Genova
  4. 4.Dept. of ImmunopathologyPoznanPoland
  5. 5.Istituto di Istologia ed Embriologia GeneraleGenovaItaly

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