Thymus ontogeny and the development of TCR alpha beta intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes

Murine T cell receptor (TCR) alpha beta intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL), which express the CD8 molecule as a homodimer (CD8 alpha alpha), can be divided into two subsets: those which are CD4+ (CD4+CD8+alpha alpha) and those which are CD4- (CD4-CD8+alpha alpha). Here, we demonstrate that most TCR alpha beta CD4+CD8+alpha alpha IEL and TCR alpha beta CD4-CD8+alpha alpha IEL subsets appear to be of thymus origin, as neonatal thymectomy of BALB/c mice on Day 3 nearly eliminated both subsets. To further support this hypothesis, we demonstrate by grafting the thymus of CBF1 (BALB/c x C57BL/6) mice into nude mice that the thymus is capable of generating both TCR alpha beta CD4-CD8+alpha alpha IEL and TCR alpha beta CD4+CD8+alpha alpha IEL. However, which of the two TCR alpha beta IEL subsets is generated depends largely on the age of the thymus. The thymus from fetal up to 2 weeks of age generates predominantly TCR alpha beta CD4-CD8+alpha alpha IEL, but very scant amounts CD4+CD8+alpha alpha IEL. In contrast, the thymus after 2 weeks of age generates very little TCR alpha beta CD4-CD8+alpha alpha IEL, but generates an abundant amount of TCR alpha beta CD4+CD8+alpha alpha IEL. These results are consistent with the observation in euthymic mice that TCR alpha beta CD4-CD8+alpha alpha IEL precede the appearance of TCR alpha beta CD4+CD8+alpha alpha IEL by several weeks, thus further suggesting that the thymus is the major source of both TCR alpha beta IEL subsets.