Developmentally regulated expression of CD3 components independent of clonotypic T cell antigen receptor complexes on immature thymocytes

CD3 signal transducing proteins are thought to be expressed on the surface of T cells only as part of clonotypic T cell receptor (TCR) complexes. Contrary to this paradigm, the present study describes surface expression of CD3 proteins independently of clonotypic TCR complexes, but only on immature thymocytes. Such novel clonotype-independent CD3 (CIC) complexes are composed primarily of CD3γε and secondarily of CD3δε heterodimers that are independent of one another and are expressed on the cell surface in association with an unknown 90-100 kD protein termed CD3-associated protein (CD3AP). CIC complexes are expressed in normal mice on early thymocytes through the CD4⁺CD8⁺ stage of development, but not on mature peripheral T cells. Furthermore, CIC complexes are expressed by both TCR^- severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) thymocytes and thymoma cell lines, in the absence of any clonotypic chains. The isolation and biochemical characterization of surface CIC complexes provides a structural basis for the signaling effects of anti-CD3ε antibody treatment in early thymocyte development.