title: Newly generated thymocytes are not refractory to deletion when the alpha/beta component of the T cell receptor is engaged by the superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin B.
abstract: It has been reported that, following the initial expression of the T cell receptor (TcR) alpha/beta, newly generated thymocytes pass through a developmental window characterized by ineffective coupling between the alpha/beta and CD3 components resulting in resistance to deletion (negative selection). However, we now provide evidence that the TcR alpha/beta on developing thymocytes is capable of delivering deletional signals in response to the superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) as soon as the receptor is expressed. We also show that if TcR+ thymocytes are allowed to mature in organ cultures of embryonic thymus before SEB is added, they respond by proliferation giving rise to blast cells of CD4-CD8-, CD4+CD8- or CD4-CD8+ phenotypes.
authors: Department of Anatomy, Medical School, Edgbaston, GB.
authors: E J
authors: EJ
authors: Jenkinson
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Kingston
authors: J J
authors: JJ
authors: Owen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010641:Phenotype; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000502:physiology*; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000378:metabolism*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D004768:Enterotoxins; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; C031818:enterotoxin B, staphylococcal; D004247:DNA