Sm. Sparshott et Eb. Bell, MEMBRANE CD45R ISOFORM EXCHANGE ON CD4 T-CELLS IS RAPID, FREQUENT ANDDYNAMIC IN-VIVO, European Journal of Immunology, 24(11), 1994, pp. 2573-2578
CD4 T cells bearing high (240-190 kDa) and low (180 kDa) molecular mas
s isoforms of the leukocyte common antigen CD45 define functionally di
stinct subsets which have been equated with naive and memory T cells.
In the rat, CD4 T cells expressing a high molecular mass isoform [iden
tified by monoclonal antibody MRC-OX22 (anti-CD45RC)] exchange this fo
r the 180 kDa molecule (CD45RC(-)) when stimulated by antigen. Here we
show, by transferring mature allotype-marked CD45RC(-) CD4 T cells (d
epleted of immature Thy-1(+) CD45RC(-) recent thymic emigrants) into n
ormal euthymic recipients, that many T cells re-express the high molec
ular mass isoform in less than 6 h. By 24 h, 30-60% of CD45RC(-) CD4 T
cells became CD45RC(+); within a week the entire cohort appeared to e
xchange the low for the high molecular mass isoform. Isoform exchange
was dynamic and many CD4 T cells returned once again to the CD45RC(-)
state. CD45RC(-) CD4 T cells declined in number more rapidly than the
CD45RC(+) subset after transfer. The results suggest that CD45R isofor
ms distinguish between resting T cells (CD45RC(+)) and those which hav
e encountered antigen in the recent past. CD45R isoforms would appear
to be unsuitable markers of naive and memory T cells.