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Thymic shared antigen-2: a novel cell surface marker associated with T cell differentiation and activation
S P Berzins1, G M Davey, E S Randle-Barrett
1Department of Pathology and Immunology, Monash Medical School, Prahran, Australia. Stuart.Berzins@med.monash.edu.au
Journal of Immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950)
|May 5, 1999
Summary
Thymic shared Ag-2 (TSA-2) is a crucial cell surface molecule for T cell development. Blocking TSA-2 severely halts T cell differentiation, highlighting its essential role in the thymus.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Thymic shared Ag-2 (TSA-2) is a cell surface molecule found on T cells and thymic stromal cells.
- TSA-2 expression varies across different T cell subsets during development and activation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of TSA-2 in T cell development and identify its functional significance.
- To explore TSA-2 as a marker for heterogeneity in T cell populations.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of TSA-2 expression on thymocytes and peripheral T cells.
- Fetal thymic organ culture with anti-TSA-2 monoclonal antibody (mAb) to assess differentiation.
- Calcium influx and apoptosis assays upon TSA-2 cross-linking.
Main Results:
- TSA-2 is expressed on various thymocyte subsets but down-regulated on recent thymic emigrants.
- Anti-TSA-2 mAb treatment blocked T cell differentiation beyond the triple-negative stage.
- Cross-linking TSA-2 induced calcium influx but not apoptosis, unless combined with anti-CD3 mAb.
Conclusions:
- TSA-2 is functionally important for T cell development in the thymus.
- TSA-2 serves as a novel indicator of heterogeneity within developing and mature T cell populations.