CD38 expression on mouse T cells: CD38 defines functionally distinct subsets of αβ TCR CD4-CD8-thymocytes

Abstract

We have examined CD38 expression on mouse lymphocytes using the rat mAb NIM-R5 and demonstrate that CD38 expression is restricted to ̃8% of thymocytes. Although CD38 is absent from the majority of CD4+ CD8- and CD4-CD8+ T cells, we detected a strong correlation between CD36 expression and αβ+CD4-CD8- T cells in the thymus, with nearly 80% of αβ TCR+CD4-CD8- thymocytes being CD38+. Using heat stable antigen (HSA) and CD38, we divided αβ+CD4+CD8- thymocytes into four subsets: HSA+CD38-, HSA- CD38hi, HSA-CD3810low and HSA- CD38-. Two established characteristics of αβ TCR+CD4CD8- cells, bias towards Vβ 8.2 TCR expression and high levels of IL-4 production, were used to establish a possible relat..