| First Author | Nakagawa T | Year | 1998 |
| Journal | Science | Volume | 280 |
| Issue | 5362 | Pages | 450-3 |
| PubMed ID | 9545226 | Mgi Jnum | J:82888 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:2655909 | Doi | 10.1126/science.280.5362.450 |
| Citation | Nakagawa T, et al. (1998) Cathepsin L: critical role in Ii degradation and CD4 T cell selection in the thymus. Science 280(5362):450-3 |
| abstractText | Degradation of invariant chain (Ii) is a critical step in major histocompatibility complex class II-restricted antigen presentation. Cathepsin L was found to be necessary for Ii degradation in cortical thymic epithelial cells (cTECs), but not in bone marrow (BM)-derived antigen-presenting cells (APCs). Consequently, positive selection of CD4+ T cells was reduced. Because different cysteine proteinases are responsible for specific Ii degradation steps in cTECs and BM-derived APCs, the proteolytic environment in cells mediating positive and negative selection may be distinct. The identification of a protease involved in class II presentation in a tissue-specific manner suggests a potential means of manipulating CD4+ T cell responsiveness in vivo. |
