| First Author | Gomez M | Year | 2001 |
| Journal | Immunity | Volume | 15 |
| Issue | 5 | Pages | 703-13 |
| PubMed ID | 11728333 | Mgi Jnum | J:73195 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:2154674 | Doi | 10.1016/s1074-7613(01)00235-7 |
| Citation | Gomez M, et al. (2001) The GTPase Rac-1 Controls Cell Fate in the Thymus by Diverting Thymocytes from Positive to Negative Selection. Immunity 15(5):703-13 |
| abstractText | The positive selection of CD4 or CD8 single-positive mature peripheral T lymphocytes and the deletion of self-reactive cells are crucial for central tolerance in the peripheral immune system. Previously, the guanine nucleotide binding protein Rac-1 has been shown to control pre-T cell development. The present report now describes the actions of Rac-1 in thymocyte selection. The study reveals that this molecule has the striking and unique ability to efficiently divert cells from positive selection into a pathway of negative selection and deletion. The ability of Rac-1 to switch thymocytes from a destiny of positive to negative selection identifies this molecule as a critical regulator of the developmental processes in T cells that are essential for immune homeostasis. |
