Ligand-stimulated signaling events in immature CD4+CD8+ thymocytes expressing competent T-cell receptor complexes.

During thymic selection of the developing T-cell repertoire, the fate of individual CD4+CD8+ thymocytes is determined by the specificity of the T-cell antigen receptors (TCRs) they express. Paradoxically, most CD4+CD8+ thymocytes express few TCR molecules, and those they express are essentially incapable of transducing intracellular signals as measured by intracellular calcium mobilization. However, both TCR number and calcium-signaling capability are significantly induced in CD4+CD8+ thymocytes when the cells are released from intrathymic inhibitory signals that are mediated by their CD4 molecules. Here, the response to ligand engagement of TCR on "induced" CD4+CD8+ thymocytes that have been released from CD4-mediated inhibition was examined and was found to result in internalization of surface TCR complexes and rephosphorylation of zeta chains of the TCR complex. In addition, a proportion of induced CD4+CD8+ thymocytes were found to fragment their DNA upon ligand engagement. Thus, this study describes early events in immature CD4+CD8+ thymocytes resulting from TCR-mediated signals.