Expression and ontogeny of murine CD2.

CD2 was first defined as the erythrocyte rosetting protein on the surface of human T cells. Recently, the rat and murine homologues have been identified by cDNA cloning. In this report we demonstrate that CD2 is expressed on the surface of most adult murine peripheral lymphocytes and thymocytes by indirect immunofluorescence using an anti-murine CD2 antiserum. The expression of CD2 on murine B cells was unexpected since in rat and human species it has been defined as a T cell-specific marker. Furthermore, CD2 appears very early on fetal thymocytes during development. The level of surface expression increases from day 13 of gestation to day 17, after which the surface density appears to reach a steady state. Thus, CD2 is expressed on day-13 thymocytes at the same stage that Thy-1, Pgp1 and the TcR gamma/delta/CD3 complex have been shown to be expressed.