Major histocompatibility complex-linked immune-responsiveness is acquired by lymphocytes of low-responder mice differentiating in thymus of high-responder mice.
Female murine T cells can respond to the Y antigen of male cells by generating cytotoxic T-killer lymphocytes. Responsiveness is linked to several H-2 genes. Two types of low responders can be distinguished: the B10.A(5R) (H-2i5) strain, a low responder because it lacks Y-specific precursor T cells able to differentiate into cytotoxic T-killer cells; and the CBA/J (H-2k) strain, a low responder because it lacks Y-specific T-helper cells able to support differentiation of T-killer cell precursors. B10.A(5R) stem cells differentiating in an x-irradiated (CBA/J X C57BL/6) (H-2k X H-2b)F1 host respond to Y antigen by generating T-killer cells whereas CBA/J stem cells do not. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that diversity of T-cell receptors is generated by somatic mutation of germ-line genes encoding specificity for self-H-2. A detailed account of this hypothesis is presented.
D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D008040:Genetic Linkage; D006183:H-2 Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D008211:Lymphocyte Cooperation; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D011828:Radiation Chimera; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D014998:Y Chromosome / Q000276:immunology
D006183:H-2 Antigens