摘要：

CD4+8− or CD4−8+ thymocytes have been regarded as direct progenitors of peripheral T cells. However, recently, we have found a novel NK1.1+ subpopulation with skewed T cell antigen receptor (TcR) Vβ family among heat-stable antigen negative (HSA−) CD4+8− thymocytes. In the present study, we show that these NK1.1+ CD4+8− thymocytes, which represent a different lineage from the major NK1.1− CD4+8− thymocytes or CD4+ lymph node T cells, vigorously secrete interleukin (IL)-4 and interfron (IFN)-γ upon stimulation with immobilized anti-TcR-αβ antibody. On the other hand, neither NK1.1− CD4+8−thymocytes nor CD4+ lymph node T cells produced substantial amounts of these lymphokines. A similar pattern of lymphokine secretion was observed with the

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