# BIOLOGY OF THE THY-1 ANTIGEN-BEARING EPIDERMAL CELLS

> **NIH NIH R01** · UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER · 1989 · $171,842

## Abstract

Mouse epidermis contains two populations of bone marrow-derived
dendritic cells, Langerhans cells (LC) and a second population
which expresses relatively large amounts of Thy-1 antigen.  These
latter cells, termed Thy-1+ dendritic epidermal cells (Thy-1+DEC)
constitute 1 to 2% of nucleated epidermal cells.  Thy-1+DEC express
T3, the invariant tri-molecular portion of the T cell receptor, in
non-covalent association with gamma/delta T cell receptor chains,
rather than with alpha/beta chains, as occurs on typical peripheral
T cells.  The classification of Thy-1+DEC as an unique T cell is
supported by their failure to express cell surface markers of
either helper/inducer (L3T4) or suppressor (Lyt-2) peripheral T
cells.  Thy-1+ DEC proliferate and excrete IL-2 in response to the
mitogen Concanavalin A, and this proliferative capacity has allowed
us to derive long term cell lines and clones.  Lines and clones
mediate non-MHC-restricted cytotoxicity against tumor targets in
vitro.  In the proposed studies we will:  1.  Identify subsets of
Thy-1+ DEC by differential expression of phenotypic markers and
characterize requirements for proliferation in vitro, with
attention to strain-to-strain variations, the effects of different
mitogens, and the effects of selected growth factors, including
Interleukin 1, Interleukin 3, Interleukin 4, and
Granulocyte/Monocyte Colony Stimulating Factor.  2.  Develop
antigen-specific Thy-1+DEC lines and clones, employing antigens
which are relevant to cutaneous inflammatory disorders:  allogeneic
cells, B16 melanoma, 5C25 ultraviolet radiation-induced
fibrosarcoma, and trinitrophenol.  3.  Assess the factors which
regulate the acquisition of cytotoxic potential by cells derived
directly from skin and by lines and clones.  4.  Assess the
contribution of Thy-1+DEC to the down-regulation of CH responses
to trinitrochlorobenzene, employing hapten-derivatized cells
administered intravenously.  5.  Search for a human homolog of Thy-
1+DEC by in situ hybridization with nucleic acid probes.
Ultimately, it is anticipated that these dendritic epidermal cells
will be found to represent a distinct lineage of T cells and that
their functional attributes will be related to that of the T3+
"double-negative" lymphocytes which have been derived from
peripheral blood and thymus of humans and of mice.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3157027
- **Project number:** 5R01AR035068-05
- **Recipient organization:** UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER
- **SAM.gov UEI:** YZJ6DKPM4W63
- **Principal Investigator:** Paul R Bergstresser
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1989
- **Award amount:** $171,842
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1984-12-01 → 1993-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3157027

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3157027, BIOLOGY OF THE THY-1 ANTIGEN-BEARING EPIDERMAL CELLS (5R01AR035068-05). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-24 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3157027. Licensed CC0.

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