Variability of CD3 membrane expression and T cell activation capacity

Fatima Zahra El Hentati (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) , Frédéric Gruy (3, 6, 7) , Cristina Iobagiu (5) , Claude Lambert (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

1 CIS-ENSMSE - Centre Ingénierie et Santé
2 DSB-ENSMSE - Axe projet "dynamique des systèmes biologiques"
3 LPMG-EMSE - Laboratoire des Procédés en Milieux Granulaires
4 IFRESIS - Institut Fédératif de Recherche en Sciences et Ingénierie de la Santé
5 Laboratoire d'Immunologie
6 SPIN-ENSMSE - Centre Sciences des Processus Industriels et Naturels
7 GENERIC-ENSMSE - Département Géochimie, environnement, écoulement, réacteurs industriels et cristallisation

αβT cells have a wide distribution of their CD3 membrane density. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the significance of the CD3 differential expression on T cell subsets. Analysis was performed on healthy donors and renal transplant patients by flowcytometry The results obtained are : 1-CD3 expression was widely distributed (CV =38.3±3.1 to (43±2.3%). 2-The CD4, CD8,CD45 and forward scatter were similarly distributed. 3-The diversity of CD3 expression was direcly related to the clonotypes: γ9, non γ9 from γδT cells and Vβ clonotype from αβT cells (e.g.: Vβ3FITC 7980±1628 Vβ8PE: Vβ20-FITC 11768±1510). 4-Using a computer simulation, we could confirm differential kinetics of T cell activation according to the initial parameters. Finally, in vitro activation was significantly higher on Vβ8 and Vβ9 (high CD3) compared to Vβ2 and Vβ3 (low CD3, P=0.040 to 0.0003). In conclusion: T cells have highly heterogeneous CD3 expression, possibly predetermined and with clear functional significance.

Mots clés: T cells; CD3; membrane density; activation kinetics

Domaines: Génie des procédés

Fatima Zahra El Hentati, Frédéric Gruy, Cristina Iobagiu, Claude Lambert. Variability of CD3 membrane expression and T cell activation capacity. Cytometry Part B Clinical Cytometry, 2010, 78B, pp.105-114. ⟨10.1002/cyto.b.20496⟩. ⟨hal-00471266⟩