Different expression of the recombination activity gene RAG-1 in various populations of thymocytes, peripheral T cells and gut thymus-independent intraepithelial lymphocytes suggests two pathways of T cell receptor rearrangement.

The presence of transcripts of the recombination activating gene RAG-1 was studied by in situ hybridization on selected populations of murine thymocytes, peripheral lymphocytes and gut intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL), obtained by cell sorting. RAG-1 mRNA was found in a majority of "double-positive" (DP) thymocytes, but was absent in "single-positive" thymocytes and peripheral T lymphocytes. The only other T lineages in which about 10%-20% of the cells contained RAG-1 mRNA, and in smaller amounts, were "double-negative" (DN), T cell receptor (TcR) gamma delta- cortical thymocytes and gut CD3- IEL. These observations suggest that (a) the high expression of RAG-1 transcripts in DP thymocytes is related to the process of expansion-selection of these cells, probably accompanied by repeated TcR rearrangements, and that (b) in contrast, CD3- IEL from the gut (which are thymus independent) as well as some DN thymocytes undergo limited TcR rearrangement giving rise locally to TcR+ T cells without prior extensive process of local expansion-selection. A small percentage of peripheral B cells also contained RAG-1 mRNA, raising the possibility that this protein may also be involved in immunoglobulin class switching.

Cytotoxic differentiation of mouse gut thymodependent and independent intraepithelial T lymphocytes is induced locally. Correlation between functional assays, presence of perforin and granzyme transcripts, and cytoplasmic granules.

Mouse gut intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL), whether thymodependent (CD4+ or CD8 alpha/beta +; TCR-alpha/beta +) or thymoindependent (CD8 alpha/alpha +; TCR-alpha/beta + or -gamma/delta +), all display cytotoxic activity in a "redirected lysis assay" using anti-CD3 or anti-TCR beta or delta chains secreting hybridomas as targets; this is also observed with IEL of germ-free mice, indicating that this activity, which is absent in peripheral T lymphocytes, does not require stimulation by bacterial antigens. Perforin and granzyme transcripts are detectable in unselected gut IEL, in contrast to normal T lymphocytes of peripheral lymphoid organs. Cytological labeling (with [3H]DFP) of IEL smears reveals labeled granules (i.e., containing serine-esterases, presumably granzymes) in all subsets of gut IEL. This indicates that the gut micro-environment has an inductive role on the cytotoxic differentiation of lymphocytes of various origins when they reach the gut wall to become IEL.

Two gut intraepithelial CD8+ lymphocyte populations with different T cell receptors: a role for the gut epithelium in T cell differentiation.

Mouse gut intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) consist mainly (90%) of two populations of CD8+ T cells. One bears heterodimeric alpha/beta CD8 chains (Lyt-2+, Lyt-3+), a T cell receptor (TCR) made of alpha/beta chains, and is Thy-1+; it represents the progeny of T blasts elicited in Peyer's patches by antigenic stimulation. The other bears homodimeric alpha/alpha CD8+ chains, contains no beta chain mRNA, and is mostly Thy-1- and TCR-gamma/delta + or -alpha/beta +; it is thymo-independent and does not require antigenic stimulation, as shown by its presence: (a) in nude and scid mice; (b) in irradiated and thymectomized mice repopulated by T-depleted bone marrow cells bearing an identifiable marker; (c) in thymectomized mice treated by injections of monoclonal anti-CD8 antibody, which lead to total depletion of peripheral CD8+ T lymphocytes; and (d) in germ-free mice and in suckling mice. In young nude mice, alpha/alpha CD8 chains, CD3-TCR complexes, and TCR mRNAs (first gamma/delta) are found on IEL, while they are not detectable on or in peripheral or circulating lymphocytes or bone marrow cells. IEL, in contrast to mature T cells, contain mRNA for the RAG protein, which is required for the rearrangement of TCR and Ig genes. We propose that the gut epithelium (an endoderm derivative, as the thymic epithelium) has an inductive property, attracting progenitors of bone marrow origin, and triggering their TCR rearrangement and alpha/alpha CD8 chains expression, thus giving rise to a T cell population that appears to belong to the same lineage as gamma/delta thymocytes and to recognize an antigenic repertoire different from that of alpha/beta CD8+ IEL.

Receptor-mediated phagocytosis by macrophages induces a calcium-dependent transient increase in c-fos transcription.

The transcription of the c-fos gene and the level of c-fos mRNA in mouse peritoneal macrophages are rapidly, strongly and transiently increased after Fc- and C3b-mediated phagocytosis, but not after phagocytosis of latex particles. In order to induce both phagocytosis and a rise in c-fos mRNA, binding to receptors must be followed by mobilization of Ca++ from intracellular Induction of c-fos transcription in macrophages by other agents acting through different intracellular "messengers', i.e. phorbol esters (protein kinase C), cholera toxin (cAMP) and dexamethasone (glucocorticoid receptor) also depends on intracellular Ca++. In all these conditions, induction of c-fos transcription is inhibited by the calmodulin antagonist W7, suggesting a common Ca++-dependent pathway for c-fos gene activation in macrophages.

Structural differences between heavy chains of secreted and membrane-bound IgM of a human lymphoblastoid cell line.

The human lymphoblastoid cell line BL was shown to synthesise three distinct molecular species of immunoglobulin M heavy chains: membrane-bound (micrometer). intracellular (micro i) and secreted (microseconds) micro-chains. Only the membrane-bound form could be labeled with a lipophilic photoactivatable nitrene reagent. Analysis of their constituent CNBr fragments and carboxypeptidase A and B digestions of their C-terminal tails suggest that the CNBr peptide pattern of microseconds and micrometer, though similar, is not identical, and that amino acids released at the C-termini of the chains are different. The data confirm recent observations in human and murine systems be showing that the membranes-associated human micro-chain contains a hydrophobic segment, consistent with its anchorage into the lipid bilayer of the plasma membrane and a C-terminal amino acid sequence different from that of the secretory micro-chain.