Sequences related to immunoglobulin kappa chain messenger RNA in T cells

Immunoglobulin mu- and gamma-ribonucleic acid sequences in thymocytes and splenocytes from normal and hyperimmune mice

The immunoglobulin heavy-chain ribonucleic acid (RNA) repertoire of mouse thymocytes was examined. Previously, this laboratory reported immunoglobulin alpha-chain RNA sequences in mouse thymocytes [Near, R. I., & Storb, U. (1979 Biochemistry, 18, 964]. We have extended these studies to encompass mu, gamma 2b, and gamma 1 heavy-chain RNA sequences, mu-, gamma 2b-, and gamma 1-messenger RNAs (mRNAs) were purified from myelomas to 45, 22, and 54% purity, respectively. Each of these mRNAs faithfully translated into the appropriate immunoprecipitable protein in a reticulocyte lysate translation system. The gamma 1-mRNA translated into two major immunoprecipitable products of about 52 500 and 51 000 daltons while mu- and gamma 2b-mRNAs yielded only a single major protein. Complementary deoxyribonucleic acids (cDNAs) prepared from the mRNAs were used as hybridization probes and revealed the presence of about 70 mu-RNA sequences per average thymocyte as determined by hybridization kinetics, while gamma 1 and gamma 2b sequences were at the limits of detection. The mu-RNA sequences are present in the cytoplasm and are greater than 50% polyadenylated. Upon hyperimmunization of mice with sheep red blood cells, gamma 1-RNA in splenocytes increased by about 100-fold while only slightly increasing in thymocytes. mu and gamma 2b increased 2-3-fold in splenocytes and only slightly in thymocytes. The results argue against RNA sequences appearing in thymocytes due to contamination with peripheral confirmed with cloned cDNA probes. Thymocyte RNA analyzed by Northern blots displayed bands of the same size as those in splenocyte RNA or in purified mRNA when hybridized to mu, gamma 2b and alpha cloned probes. Also, K light-chain RNAs of the same size were found in spleen and thymus by using a cloned K-DNA probe. The results are consistent with the thymus containing mu-, alpha-, and K- and small amounts of gamma 1- or gamma 2b-RNAs coding for heavy- and light-chain-like proteins which may play a role in T-cell function.

The immunoglobulin mu constant region gene is expressed in mouse thymocytes

It has been a matter of controversy whether the functional capacity of T cells to discriminate between antigens is mediated via immunoglobulin, an immunoglobulin-like molecule, or by the product(s) of unrelated genes. The progenitors of immunoglobulin-secreting cells, B cells, express membrane-bound immunoglobulin as the antigen-specific receptor on their surface. For T cells, although products of immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region genes are implicated as receptor components, there has been no compelling immunochemical evidence for participation of either immunoglobulin light chains or heavy chain constant regions (see refs 2-6 for the disparate views). Recently, using cloned immunoglobulin DNA sequences as hybridization probes, we have demonstrated that the immunoglobulin Cmu gene, but not the Cmu gene, is expressed as polyadenylated RNA in some T cell tumour (T lymphoma) cell lines. Individual T lymphoma lines yielded up to three discrete mu RNA species of different sizes (1.9, 2.2 and 3.0 kilobases), each species being different in size from the major mu RNA species present in B lymphoma cells (2.4 and 2.7 kilobases). We show here that cells from the normal mouse thymus contain mu RNA species, indistinguishable in size from those in T lymphoma cells, but contain little if any kappa RNA.

Molecular properties of T-lymphoma immunoglobulin. III. Peptide composition of the light chain

Structural studies of T-cell immunoglobulin light chains have been carried out in order to ascertain whether they possess a unique structure or if they resemble standard kappa or lambda isotypes. T-cell immunoglobulin was isolated from 125I-labelled culture medium of monoclonal, continuously cultured T-lymphoma cells, and the purified 125I-labelled light chains were subjected to either cleavage by cyanogen bromide or digestion with trypsin. These peptides were then resolved and compared with those derived from 125I- and 131I-labelled murine kappa and lambda chains in mixed label experiments, by means of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate-containing buffers and ion exchange chromatography. The profiles obtained suggested that T-lymphoma immunoglobulin light chains are immunoglobulin polypeptides and most closely resemble kappa chains. These results support available antigenic and mRNA hybridization data, which also suggest that T cells bear kappa-like light chains.

Direct demonstration of immunoglobulin kappa chain RNA in thymus T cells by in situ hybridization

Mouse thymuses with more than 99% T cells have been reported to contain immunoglobulin kappa mRNA-like molecules (kappa RNA) in relatively large quantities. The present study was undertaken to rule out the possibility that the kappa RNA was mainly a product of a few contaminating B cells of the thymus and to determine whether all T-cell subpopulations contained kappa RNA. By in situ hybridization with DNA complementary to kappa mRNA (kappa cDNA) the following observations were made: 98.5% of thymus cell preparations hybridized with kappa cDNA; the 1.5% unlabeled cells were generally larger and paler staining than the majority of thymus cells. Only 0.015% of thymus cells were intensely labeled and appeared to be plasma cells. Also, 87% of spleen cells hybridized with kappa cDNA; most of these showed similar labeling intensity to the majority of thymus cells. The number of unlabeled cells corresponded to the percentage of hemopoietic cells and macrophages in the spleen. Spleen cells in the range of 0.37-0.85% were intensely labeled and appeared to be plasma cells. The following controls supported the conclusion that the results with thymus and spleen were due to specific hybridization: most of the kappa mRNA-deficient tissue culture cells of the plasmocytoid tumor ABPL-4 did not hybridize with kappa cDNA. The kappa mRNA-producing cells from myeloma PC 3741 hybridized in situ with kappa cDNA. Furthermore, all cells from this tumor and all spleen cells hybridized uniformly with a cDNA probe complementary to most of the total cellular poly(A)-containing RNA species of these cells. These results indicate that T cells of all types in the thymus as well as in the periphery contain substantial quantities of kappa RNA.

Lymphocyte surface immunoglobulins: detection, characterization, and occurrence in disease of the lymphoid system

Surface immunoglobulins (Igs) of lymphocytes are of considerable interest because these molecules probably function as receptors for antigen, and knowledge of their molecular properties should provide information on the mechanisms of immune differentiation. The density and types of surface Ig on a cell provide markers useful in indicating the class of a lymphocyte and its stage of maturity. Moreover, knowledge of the specificities of the surface Ig of neoplastic lymphocytes might suggest the nature of agents involved in the generation of the disease. Two broad classes of lymphocytes, bone marrow-derived lymphocytes (B cells) active in antibody secretion, and thymus-derived lymphocytes (T cells) which mediate cellular immune reactions, and their subpopulations must be considered with reference to the nature, origin, and function of their surface immunoglobulin. This article analyzes direct and indirect methods for the demonstration of surface Igs and describes certain physicochemical properties of isolated surface Ig molecules. Roles of these surface molecules in recognition of antigen, initiation of all differentiation, and cooperation among lymphocytes and accessory cells are discussed.

Immunoglobulin-like messenger RNA in a mouse T cell lymphoma

RNA-driven complementary DNA (cDNA) hybridization experiments have been carried out in order to detect complementary sequences in RNA prepared from a mouse T cell lymphoma line (EL4). In conditions where efficient hybridization of L-chain cDNA with homologous P3 myeloma mRNA was observed, poor hybridization was observed with EL4 mRNA unless a low criterion of hybrid formation was employed (i.e. hydroxyapatite fractionation). The hybrid formed between EL4 mRNA and L-chain cDNA was found to melt about 5 degrees C below the homologous hybrid indicating that the sequence detected in EL4 mRNA is similar but not identical with the P3 mRNA sequence. However, a similar sequence was detectable in a Clambda-producing myeloma cell line but in this line the concentration of the sequence was found to be an order of magnitude lower than in EL4 cells.