Function of CD44(Pgp-1) homing receptor in human T cell precursors

International Immunology
A de la HeraF Sanchez-Madrid

Abstract

T cell precursors migrate from extrathymic hematopoietic tissues and differentiate after encountering the thymic microenvironment. We asked whether human T cell precursors express the CD44(Pgp-1/gp90HR) class of homing receptors that have been implicated in the traffic of hematopoietic cells, such as lymphocyte entry to peripheral lymphoid organs. Flow cytometry and immunoprecipitation studies demonstrate that CD7+34+, CD1-2-3-4-8-14-16-20- cells in bone marrow and thymus, which have been shown to exhibit features of T cell precursors, bear CD44. Immunohistological studies show that clusters of thymocytes in the subcapsular and the inner cortex and most medullary thymocytes are clearly CD44+, whereas the expression of CD44 is selectively downregulated in CD3- and CD3low functionally incompetent cortical thymocytes. The expression of CD44 is not restricted to T cell precursors but also occurs in thymic stroma, which bear a different molecular species of CD44. CD44-specific antibodies exert stimulatory effects on T cell precursors, a process that is dependent on stromal cells. We postulate that CD44 might be an adhesion molecule for precursor homing to thymus and that it participates in cell-to-cell interactions within the thymic...Continue Reading

Citations

Oct 1, 1990·Immunological Reviews·J G TewA K Szakal
Jul 17, 1998·The Journal of Investigative Dermatology·P F PeñasA García-Díez
Apr 28, 2009·Virology·Valeri H TerryCelsa A Spina
Feb 7, 2017·Frontiers in Immunology·Kirsten Canté-BarrettJules P P Meijerink
May 22, 2018·The Journal of Clinical Investigation·Marina García-PeydróMaría L Toribio

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