Requirement of CD3 Complex–associated Signaling Functions for Expression of Rearranged T Cell Receptor β VDJ Genes in Early Thymic Development

During αβ thymocyte development, the clonotypic αβ–T cell receptor (TCR) is preceded by sequentially expressed immature versions of the TCR–CD3 complex: the pre-TCR, containing a clonotypic TCR-β chain and invariant pre-Tα, is expressed on pre-T cells before rearrangement of the TCR-α locus. Moreover, clonotype-independent CD3 complexes (CIC) appear on pro-T cells before VDJ rearrangements of TCR-β genes. The pre-TCR is known to mediate TCR-β selection, the prerequisite for maturation of CD4(−)8(−) double negative (DN) thymocytes to the CD4(+)8(+) double positive stage. A developmental function of CIC has so far not been delineated. In mice single deficient and double deficient for CD3ζ/η and/or p56(lck), we observe a pronounced reduction in the proportions of CD25(+) DN thymocytes that express intracellular TCR-β chains. TCR-β transcripts are reduced in parallel with TCR-β polypeptide chains whereas no reduction in TCR-β locus rearrangements could be detected. Wild-type levels of TCR-β transcripts and of cells expressing TCR-β polypeptide chains are induced by treatment with anti-CD3ε mAb. The data suggest that the initial expression of rearranged TCR-β VDJ genes in pro-T cell to pre-T cell progression is dependent on CD3 complex signaling, and thus define a putative developmental function for CIC.