4-1BB is expressed on CD45RAhiROhi transitional T cell in humans.

Murine 4-1BB is an approximately 30-kDa glycoprotein expressed on activated T cells and plays a role in T-cell-mediated proliferative response. To date the majority of work on 4-1BB has been conducted in the mouse. To assess the role of 4-1BB in humans, mAbs were made against the recombinant human (rh) 4-1BB protein. One such mAb 4B4-1 specifically binds SF-21 insect cells expressing rh4-1BB but not irrelevant control protein as measured by flow cytometry (FCM). 4B4-1 mAb stains PMA- and ionomycin-stimulated CEM (human T lymphoma) cells and PHA-stimulated peripheral blood T cells, but not resting cells. 4B4-1 mAb immunoprecipitates both approximately 32 and approximately 80 kDa protein from rh4-1BB expressing SF-21 cells and an approximately 39- and approximately 85-kDa protein from PMA-stimulated CEM cells under reducing conditions by SDS-PAGE. As added proof of its specificity, binding of FITC-labeled 4B4-1 mAb to PHA-stimulated T cells was blocked by rh4-1BB protein. Together these data demonstrate that 4B4-1 is specific for 4-1BB in humans. Unlike in the mouse, 4-1BB is expressed much earlier (within 24 hr) peaking around 2-3 days following PHA stimulation. As in the mouse 4-1BB is induced on both CD4+ and CD8+ T cell subsets. 4-1BB expression is induced upon PHA stimulation in both the naive (CD45RAhi-CD45ROlo/-) and the memory (CD45RAlo/-ROhi) T cell populations. Virtually all CD45RAhiROlo/- cells upon culture in PHA give rise to an intermediate CD45RAhiROhi 4-1BB+ transitional cell and subsequently CD45RAlo/-ROhi 4-1BBlo/- and CD45RAlo/-ROhi 4-1BBhi cells. In contrast, approximately 27% of CD45RAlo/-ROhi 4-1BB- cells when cultured in PHA for 24 hr acquire 4-1BB expression and all remain CD45RAlo/-ROhi.