CD4 and CD8 act as co-receptors during thymic selection of the T cell repertoire.
The selection of T cell receptor specificities must logically not only involve the alpha beta-TCR but, also the CD4 and CD8 molecules, as antigen recognition by the alpha beta-TCR on mature T cells is facilitated by the CD4 and CD8 co-receptors. In this review, the studies that provided key advances in our understanding of the possible role of CD4 and CD8 in T cell development will be discussed.
Zúñiga-Pflücker
J C
JC
Biological Response Modifiers Program, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892.
Jones
L A
LA
Chin
L T
LT
Kruisbeek
A M
AM
D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000502:physiology*; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000502:physiology*; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000502:physiology*; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000502:physiology; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000276:immunology
D015703:Antigens, CD; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell