CD21, the C3d/CD23/Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), receptor is expressed at low density on cells of the T lineage. Immature thymocytes express CD21 with high density. In the present study, we have analyzed the expression of CD21 during intrathymic maturation of T cells. An intense staining for CD21 was observed at the double-negative stage and at the stage of early acquisition of CD4. CD21 expression was decreased at the double-positive and single-positive stages, to then reach levels similar to those of peripheral blood T cells. Staining of thymus sections showed a bright fluorescent signal on thymocytes entering the thymus in the cortical region. Taking advantage of the immature phenotype of cells expressing high amounts of CD21 (CD21(++)), we depleted thymocyte suspensions in CD3(+) and CD8(+) cells to study the properties of CD21 on this cell subset. Triggering of CD21 with its ligands iC3b, CD23 and anti-CD21 mAb did not alter the proliferative response of thymocytes to IL-7, and did not induce the differentiation of early cells into CD4(+)CD8(+) thymocytes. Immunoprecipitation did not reveal any molecule associated with CD21 that could play a signaling role in thymocytes. Finally, EBV induced a down-regulation of CD21 and an up-regulation of CD1 in CD21(++) thymocytes. Taken together, our observations demonstrate a regulated expression of CD21 on human thymocytes and suggest that the CD21(++) subset may be a target for EBV. We further suggest that CD21 on early thymocytes acts as a ligand for CD23-expressing cells in the thymus.
The present study demonstrates that the C3b receptor CR1 (CD35) and the C3dg/Epstein-Barr virus receptor CR2 (CD21) are expressed by 25% and 70% of normal human thymocytes, respectively. The expression of CR2 extends to both CD1+ and CD1- cells in the thymus. Two subsets of CR2+ thymocytes were defined expressing low and high density of the receptor. The CR2++ subset represented 20% of CR2+ thymocytes and co-expressed the CR1 receptor. CR2++ thymocytes expressed an immature CD1dull, CD3-, CD4dull, CD8-, CD7++ phenotype and included a subpopulation of large cells expressing CD34. Twenty percent of thymocytes expressed the CD21 epitope defined by monoclonal antibody BU32, which is involved in the binding of CD23 to CD21. These observations provide a basis for a role for CD21 in the proliferation and differentiation of thymocytes at early stages of maturation. The functionality of CR1 and CR2 on thymocytes was evidenced by the ability of the receptors to mediate infection of cells with complement-opsonized human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The results may be relevant to the immunopathogenesis of HIV infection.
SUMMARYThe present study provides evidence for a role of the C3b receptor, CR1 (CD35), in activation of HIV replication in CD4 T lymphocytes. Ligation of CR1 with cross-linked anti-receptor MoAbs or with aggregated C3b enhanced transcription of viral genes and the release of p24 and RT activity from cultures of purified normal CD4 T lymphocytes that had been infected with HIV-1 in vitro. No effect was observed upon ligation of CR2 (CD21), a C3 receptor that is also expressed on human CD4 T cells. Cross-linking of CR1 also enhanced HIV replication in peripheral blood CD4 lymphocytes isolated from HIV individuals. The enhancing effect of CR1 was not related to a mitogenic effect induced by stimulation of the receptor on T cells. The CR1 specificity of the enhancing effect was established by the observation that the addition of soluble recombinant CR1 to the cultures abolished the enhancement of p24 release induced by anti-CR1 MoAbs. Our results suggest that HIV replication may be triggered in resting HIV-infected CD4 T lymphocytes through interaction with C3b-bearing immune complexes or particles.
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