Journal of Experimental Medicine, Vol 152, 1745-1761, Copyright © 1980 by Rockefeller University Press

ARTICLES

Helper and killer T cells do not express B cell immunoglobulin joining and constant region gene segments

M Kronenberg, MM Davis, PW Early, LE Hood and JD Watson

We have analyzed four kinds of T cells for rearrangement and expression of immunoglobulin genes. These cells include: (a) whole thymus; (b) WEHI-22, a T-cell lymphoma; (c) HT-1, an major histocompatibility complex-restricted T helper line; and (d) CTLLi6, an H-2 alloreactive killer cell line. None of the B-cell joining and constant gene segments are rearranged in the T cells. The monoclonal cells do not express any C kappa, C lambda, Cmu or C alpha RNA species. Small amounts of C kappa, C alpha, and Cmu sequences are present in RNA prepared from the thymus, although the significance of this RNA for T-cell antigen receptor synthesis is uncertain. The data support the hypothesis that expression of B-cell joining and C gene segments is unnecessary for T- cell helper and T-cell killer activity.
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This article has been cited by other articles:

• Bier, E, Hashimoto, Y, Greene, M., Maxam, A. (1985). Active T-cell receptor genes have intron deoxyribonuclease hypersensitive sites. Science 229: 528-534 [Abstract]  
• Malissen, M, Hunkapiller, T, Hood, L (1983). Nucleotide sequence of a light chain gene of the mouse I-A subregion: A beta d. Science 221: 750-754 [Abstract]  

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