Expression of T cell antigen receptor genes in the thymus of irradiated mice after bone marrow transplantation

Journal Article · Fri Jan 15 04:00:00 EST 1988 · J. Immunol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5592139

Matsuzaki, G; Yoshikai, Y; Kishihara, K; Nomoto, K

Sequential appearance of the expression of T cell antigen receptor genes was investigated in the thymus of irradiated mice at the early stage after transplantation of Thy-1 congeneic H-2 compatible allogeneic bone marrow cells. The first cells to repopulate the thymus on day 7 after bone marrow transplantation were intrathymic radioresistant T cell precursors, which expanded mainly to CD4+CD8+ host-type thymocytes by day 14. A high level of gamma gene expression but a much reduced level of alpha and beta gene expression were detected in the host-type thymocytes on day 7. During regeneration of these cells, gamma-chain messages fell to low level and alpha and beta mRNA levels increased. The thymus of the recipients began to be repopulated by donor-derived T cells about 2 wk after bone marrow transplantation and was almost completely replaced by the third week. An ordered expression of gamma then beta and alpha-chain gene transcript was also observed in the donor-type thymocytes at the early stage after bone marrow transplantation. The use of thymocytes at early stage in whole-body irradiated bone marrow chimera provides a pertinent source for investigating the molecular mechanism of T cell differentiation in adult thymus.

• Research Organization: Kyushu Univ., Fukuoka, Japan
• OSTI ID: 5592139
• Journal Information: J. Immunol.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Immunol.; (United States) Vol. 140:2; ISSN JOIMA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560152* -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Animals
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLOOD
BLOOD CELLS
BODY
BODY FLUIDS
BONE MARROW CELLS
CELL DIFFERENTIATION
CHIMERAS
CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
EXTERNAL IRRADIATION
GENE REGULATION
IRRADIATION
LEUKOCYTES
LYMPHATIC SYSTEM
LYMPHOCYTES
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
MESSENGER-RNA
MICE
MOSAICISM
NUCLEIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PRECURSOR
RADIATION CHIMERAS
RADIOSENSITIVITY
RNA
RODENTS
SOMATIC CELLS
SPLEEN
THYMOCYTES
THYMUS
TRANSPLANTS
VERTEBRATES
WHOLE-BODY IRRADIATION