The Effect of TCR-Activation and β-Estradiol on the Maturation and Differentiation of CD45RA+ T cells in vitro

Abstract

Cellular and molecular aspects of maturation and differentiation of TCR-activated naive (CD3⁺CD45RA⁺CD62L⁺) T cells exposed to different concentrations of the female sex hormone β-estradiol in vitro were monitored. CD3⁺CD45RA⁺CD62L⁺ T cells were obtained from a fraction of blood mononuclear cells of healthy donors using immunomagnetic separation. The immunophenotype of T lymphocytes was analyzed by flow cytofluorometry. The polymerase chain reaction defined the level of U2af1l4 and Gfi1 gene expression in CD3⁺CD45RA⁺CD62L⁺ T cells. It was found that altered U2af1l4, Gfi1 gene expression produced by β-estradiol affected the maturation and differentiation of CD45RA⁺CD62L⁺ T lymphocytes. The cells underwent phenotypic conversion characterized by increased numbers of CD45RO⁺-T lymphocytes and reduced in content of T cells with molecules of activation and costimulation (CD127 and CD28) on the membrane surface.