The CD28/B7 pathway provides a critical co-stimulatory signal for T cell activation. In the present study, we cloned rat CD80 and CD86 cDNA from a HTLV-1-transformed rat T cell line, Lewis-S1, expressing a high level of CTLA-4-Ig binding proteins. The predicted CD80 and CD86 polypeptides were composed of 321 and 313 amino acids respectively, and exhibited features common to human and mouse B7 family proteins. Both CD80 and CD86 mRNAs were abundantly detected in HTLV-1-transformed rat T cell lines but not in a thymic lymphoma cell line. To further explore the function of rat CD80 and CD86, we generated cDNA transfectants and anti-rat CD80 (3H5) and anti-rat CD86 (24F) mAb. Rat CD80 or CD86 transfectants exhibited a potent co-stimulatory activity for rat T cell proliferation, which was blocked by 3H5 and 24F mAb respectively. 3H5 or 24F immunoprecipitated a 80-90 or 90-100 kDa surface protein from Lewis-S1 cells. HTLV-1-transformed rat T cell lines expressed high levels of both CD80 and CD86 as estimated by staining with 3H5 and 24F, which acted co-stimulatory for allogeneic T cell activation as estimated by blocking with 3H5 and 24F. These mAb will be useful for investigating the pathophysiological functions of CD80 and CD86 in transplantation, autoimmune diseases and HTLV-1-associated pathologies in the rat system.