Unique T cell differentiation markers: gangliosides with cholera toxin receptor activity on murine fetal thymocytes

Cholera toxin B subunit receptors (CTBR; gangliosides GM1a and GM1b-GalNAc-Gal) and GM1b-type gangliosides were examined during T cell development in BALB/c mice by FACS or TLC immunostaining. Sixty-two percent of CD4-8- early fetal thymocytes express CTBR [58% low affinity (GM1a+), 4% high affinity (GM1a2+)] at 13 days gestation (Day 13); GM1a2+ was expressed preferentially on Thy-1+ fetal thymocytes after Day 13. GM1a2+ Thy-1+ cells increased from 4% on Day 13 to 95% on Day 17. Surface GM1a2+ decreased beginning on Day 15 while GM1b-GalNAc-Gal (and CD4 and CD8) increased. GM1b-type+ cells increased from 8% on Day 13 to 51% on Day 17 and then decreased to 16% at 4 weeks; few asialo GM1+ cells (< 5%) are seen during gestation. Thus, synthesis of GM1a- and GM1b-type series was active until Days 15 and 17, respectively, and then was suppressed; GM1b-GalNAc-Gal was synthesized from GM1b following Gestational Day 15. GM1a- and GM1b-type identify immature T cells in mice, while GM1b-GalNAc-Gal identifies mature T cells.