Differential modulation of human multinegative (CD3-4-8-) thymocyte proliferation by monoclonal antibodies to CD45RA or to CD45.

Human multinegative (CD3-4-8-19-; MN) thymocytes proliferate optimally in response to anti-CD2 plus anti-CD28 mAb plus PMA or IL-7. The role of CD45 was assessed by the addition of mAb to a CD45 common determinant, or to CD45RA. MN thymocytes are unresponsive to anti-CD2 mAb. Co-stimulation with anti-CD45RA generated 1.6-5.7-fold enhancement of a proliferative response, with maximal enhancement by cross-linkage of CD45RA molecules. The response to anti-CD2/28 mAb was reproducibly enhanced only by immobilized anti-CD45RA. Cross-linking of CD45RA and CD28 through the use of heteroconjugates of mAb did not enhance the co-stimulation by CD45RA. The most marked enhancement by anti-CD45RA occurred in suboptimal activation conditions. In contrast, the response to anti-CD2 or anti-CD2/28 was inhibited by mAb to CD45 common determinants (anti-CD45) in the presence or absence of PMA or IL-7, with the most profound inhibition (6-8-fold) detected in optimal proliferative conditions. Cross-linking of CD45 and CD28 through heteroconjugates of mAb was required as soluble anti-CD45 or immobilized anti-CD45 were unable to mediate inhibition. This inhibitory effect of (anti-CD45 x 28) was specific to MN thymocytes as no inhibition was detectable when peripheral blood T cells were treated with anti-CD2/28 and the same heteroconjugate. The differential effects of anti-CD45 and anti-CD45RA may reflect either CD45 heterogeneity on MN thymocytes, or the physical modulation of a single CD45 molecules by interactions at different epitopes, and the avidity of the relevant CD45 mAb for thymocyte CD45 isoforms may play a role.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)