First Author | Volkmann A | Year | 1998 |
Journal | J Exp Med | Volume | 188 |
Issue | 6 | Pages | 1083-9 |
PubMed ID | 9743527 | Mgi Jnum | J:115207 |
Mgi Id | MGI:3690843 | Doi | 10.1084/jem.188.6.1083 |
Citation | Volkmann A, et al. (1998) Antagonist peptide selects thymocytes expressing a class II major histocompatibility complex-restricted T cell receptor into the CD8 lineage. J Exp Med 188(6):1083-9 |
abstractText | CD4/CD8 lineage decision is an important event during T cell maturation in the thymus. CD8 T cell differentiation usually requires corecognition of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I by the T cell receptor (TCR) and CD8, whereas CD4 T cells differentiate as a consequence of MHC class II recognition by the TCR and CD4. The involvement of specific peptides in the selection of T cells expressing a particular TCR could be demonstrated so far for the CD8 lineage only. We used mice transgenic for an MHC class II-restricted TCR to investigate the role of antagonistic peptides in CD4 T cell differentiation. Interestingly, antagonists blocked the development of CD4(+) cells that normally differentiate in thymus organ culture from those mice, and they induced the generation of CD8(+) cells in thymus organ culture from mice impaired in CD4(+) cell development (invariant chain-deficient mice). These results are in line with recent observations that antagonistic signals direct differentiation into the CD8 lineage, regardless of MHC specificity. |