The Journal of Immunology, Vol 153, Issue 6 2429-2435, Copyright © 1994 by American Association of Immunologists

ARTICLES

Developmentally ordered appearance of a functional Fc gamma receptor on TCR V gamma 3 thymocytes. Evidence for stimulation-induced expression

G Leclercq and J Plum
Department of Clinical Chemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Ghent, University Hospital, Belgium.

In the present report, we show that the Fc gamma receptor (Fc gamma R) becomes expressed on mature TCR V gamma 3 thymocytes, but it is absent on immature TCR V gamma 3 cells. Both Fc gamma RIII are Fc gamma RIII are expressed. The in vivo expression of the Fc gamma R on mature TCR V gamma 3 thymocytes coincides with an activated phenotype of the cells. In vitro, anti-CD3 stimulation of Fc gamma R-negative, immature TCR V gamma 3 thymocytes results in the expression of the Fc gamma R. The Fc gamma R of short-term IL-2-cultured, mature TCR V gamma 3 thymocytes is functional in an Ab-mediated cytotoxicity assay. In addition, it is shown that cross-linking of the Fc gamma R induces an increase in cytoplasmic Ca2+. Collectively, our findings show that mature TCR V gamma 3 thymocytes express a functional Fc gamma R; evidence is presented that this could be a result of in vivo activation of these cells.