T cell receptor/CD3-signaling induces death by apoptosis in human T cell receptor gamma delta + T cells

• Published in: The Journal of immunology (1950) Vol. 146; no. 1; pp. 35 - 39
• Main Authors: Janssen, O, Wesselborg, S, Heckl-Ostreicher, B, Pechhold, K, Bender, A, Schondelmaier, S, Moldenhauer, G, Kabelitz, D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Am Assoc Immnol 01-01-1991
• Subjects: Antibodies, Monoclonal - immunology; Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte - physiology; CD3 Complex; Cell Survival; Clone Cells; DNA - analysis; DNA Damage; Flow Cytometry; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Interleukin-2 - pharmacology; Lymphocyte Activation; Precipitin Tests; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell - immunology; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell - physiology; T-Lymphocyte Subsets - cytology
• ISSN: 0022-1767; 1550-6606
• DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.146.1.35

mAb directed against the TCR/CD3 complex activate resting T cells. However, TCR/CD3 signaling induces death by apoptosis in immature (CD4+CD8+) murine thymocytes and certain transformed leukemic T cell lines. Here we show that anti-TCR and anti-CD3 mAb induce growth arrest of cloned TCR-gamma delta + T cells in the presence of IL-2. In the absence of exogenous IL-2, however, the very same anti-TCR/CD3 mAb stimulated gamma delta (+)-clones to proliferation and IL-2 production. In the presence of exogenous IL-2, anti-TCR/CD3 mAb induced the degradation of DNA into oligosomal bands of approximately 200 bp length in cloned gamma delta + T cells. This pattern of DNA fragmentation is characteristic for the programmed cell death termed apoptosis. These results demonstrate that TCR/CD3 signaling can induce cell death in cloned gamma delta + T cells. In addition, this report is the first to show that apoptosis triggered by TCR/CD3 signaling is not restricted to CD4+CD8+ immature thymocytes and transformed leukemic T cell lines but can be also observed with IL-2-dependent normal (i.e., TCR-gamma delta +) T cells.