First Author | van Meerwijk JP | Year | 1993 |
Journal | Science | Volume | 261 |
Issue | 5123 | Pages | 911-5 |
PubMed ID | 8102208 | Mgi Jnum | J:113012 |
Mgi Id | MGI:3664190 | Doi | 10.1126/science.8102208 |
Citation | van Meerwijk JP, et al. (1993) Development of mature CD8+ thymocytes: selection rather than instruction?. Science 261(5123):911-5 |
abstractText | The role of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules in T cell differentiation was investigated by comparison of thymocyte subpopulations in wild-type mice and beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2M) mutant mice deficient in MHC class I expression and mature CD8+ cells. On the basis of surface markers, glucocorticoid resistance, in vitro differentiation capacity, and absence in beta 2 M-l- mice, CD4intermediateCD8hi cells with high expression of alpha beta T cell receptor (TCR alpha beta) were identified as having been positively selected by MHC class I for development into mature CD8+ T cells. Activated CD4intCD8hi cells bearing intermediate rather than high amounts of TCR were present in both wild-type and beta 2M-l- animals. These data suggest that recognition of MHC class I molecules is required for full maturation to CD8+ T cells, but not for receptor-initiated commitment to the CD8+ lineage, consistent with a stochastic (selection) model of thymocyte development. |