Expression of RT6, but not CD45RC, is disturbed on immature peripheral T cells in the BB rat.

Abstract

In rats, recent thymic migrants (RTM) are phenotypically characterized by the presence of Thy-1 and the lack of RT6 and CD45RC expression. Upon peripheral maturation these cells develop into Thy-1- T cells that express both RT6 and CD45RC (1-3). For the bulk of RTM this transition was shown to occur through at least two subsequent intermediate stages in which T cells first express the Thy-1+/RT67CD45RC~ and later the Thy-1+RT6+CD45RC+ phenotype (1,4).