RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Analysis of T cell receptors in highly purified rat and human large granular lymphocytes (LGL): lack of functional 1.3 kb beta-chain mRNA.
JF The Journal of Immunology
JO J. Immunol.
FD American Association of Immunologists
SP 2701
OP 2704
VO 136
IS 7
A1 Young, H A
A1 Ortaldo, J R
A1 Herberman, R B
A1 Reynolds, C W
YR 1986
UL http://www.jimmunol.org/content/136/7/2701.abstract
AB Recent reports have suggested that the T cell receptor for antigen is somehow involved in the cytotoxicity of natural killer (NK) cells. However, we now report that highly purified, freshly isolated large granular lymphocytes (LGL) from both the human and rat, as well as LGL cultured in the presence of recombinant IL 2, express only the 1.0 kb beta-chain mRNA. The lack of a 1.3 kb mRNA, indicative of a functional beta-chain rearrangement, strongly suggests that a functional T cell receptor beta-chain is absent in freshly isolated LGL, thus making it extremely unlikely that this molecule is involved in target cell recognition by NK cells. These results also suggest that LGL are derived from a lineage distinct from T cells or develop before a functional rearrangement of the T cell receptor beta-chain.