MHC-Independent Thymic Selection of CD4 and CD8 Coreceptor Negative αβ T Cells

It is becoming increasingly clear that unconventional T cell subsets, such as NKT, gamma delta T, mucosal-associated invariant T, and CD8 alpha alpha T cells, each play distinct roles in the immune response. Subsets of these cell types can lack both CD4 and CD8 coreceptor expression. Beyond these known subsets, we identify CD4(-)CD8(-)TCR alpha beta(+), double-negative (DN) T cells, in mouse secondary lymphoid organs. DN T cells are a unique unconventional thymic-derived T cell subset. In contrast to CD5(high) DN thymocytes that preferentially yield TCR alpha beta(+) CD8 alpha alpha intestinal lymphocytes, we find that mature CD5(low) DN thymocytes are precursors to peripheral DN T cells. Using reporter mouse strains, we show that DN T cells transit through the immature CD4(+)CD8(+) (double-positive) thymocyte stage. Moreover, we provide evidence that DN T cells can differentiate in MHC-deficient mice. Our study demonstrates that MHC-independent thymic selection can yield DN T cells that are distinct from NKT, gamma delta T, mucosal-associated invariant T, and CD8 alpha alpha T cells.