Factors influencing the fate of T cells responding to Mls antigens.
Although T cell tolerance to self antigens is primarily a reflection of clonal deletion in the thymus, recent evidence suggests that mature T cells are subject to negative regulation in the post-thymic environment: Extrathymic tolerance is the result of clonal anergy in some studies and T cell deletion in others. The factors controlling the induction of anergy versus deletion of mature T cells are still poorly understood. This article summarizes evidence that exposure of T cells to Mls superantigens in vivo leads to a sequence of T cell proliferation, anergy and deletion; anergy appears to reflect persistence of antigen. The biochemical consequences of exposing T cells to superantigens in vitro are discussed.
Webb
S R
SR
Department of Immunology, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037.
O'Rourke
A M
AM
Sprent
J
J
D000818:Animals; D016923:Cell Death / Q000502:physiology; D006183:H-2 Antigens / Q000502:physiology; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D008212:Lymphocyte Depletion; D051379:Mice; D008806:Mice, Inbred AKR; D016747:Minor Lymphocyte Stimulatory Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D006183:H-2 Antigens; D016747:Minor Lymphocyte Stimulatory Antigens