Year: 1986
Type: article
Abstract: In this report we have combined the whole-cell electrophysiological recording technique with flow microfluorometry to isolate phenotypically defined thymocytes and T lymphocytes. Results obtained showed that J11d-/Lyt-2-/L3T4- cells express none or very few delayed rectifier K+ channels, whereas most other Lyt-2-/L3T4- cells, as well as typical cortical thymocytes (Lyt-2+/L3T4+), do express K+ channels. Mature (Lyt-2+/L3T4- or Lyt-2-/L3T4+) thymocytes, which are heterogeneous for J11d expression, were also found to be heterogeneous for K+ channel expression. Consistent with this finding was the observation that the cortisone-resistant subpopulation of thymocytes, which express low levels of J11d, were enriched for cells expressing low levels of K+ channels. Mature phenotype peripheral T lymphocytes expressed very low levels of K+ channels, but upon activation with Con A were found to express high levels of K+ channels. The results suggest that K+ channel expression in T cells is developmentally regulated. Increased expression of the channel is induced in response to mitogenic signals throughout the T cell lineage. Expression of the channel, therefore, serves as a useful marker in defining steps in the T cell differentiation pathway.
Authors: D McKinnon, R Ceredig
Institution: Australian National University
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W1973160792