Beta 2-microglobulin deficient mice lack CD4-8+ cytolytic T cells.
Mice homozygous for a beta 2-microglobulin gene disruption do not express any detectable beta 2-m protein. They express little if any functional major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I antigen on the cell surface yet are fertile and apparently healthy. They show a normal distribution of gamma delta, CD4+8+ and CD4+8- T cells, but have no mature CD4-8+ T cells and are defective in CD4-8+ T cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Our results strongly support earlier evidence that MHC class I molecules are crucial for positive selection of T cell antigen receptor alpha beta+ CD4-8+ T cells in the thymus and call into question the non-immune functions that have been ascribed to MHC class I molecules.
Zijlstra
M
M
Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Bix
M
M
Simister
N E
NE
Loring
J M
JM
Raulet
D H
DH
Jaenisch
R
R
D000818:Animals; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D006183:H-2 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D006720:Homozygote; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D009154:Mutation; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D011961:Receptors, Fc / Q000502:physiology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics
D006183:H-2 Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D011961:Receptors, Fc; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin