Influence of the major histocompatibility complex on positive thymic selection of V beta 17a+ T cells.
A monoclonal antibody was used to show directly positive thymic selection of the T cell repertoire in mouse strains expressing the 17a beta-chain variable domain (V beta 17a) of the T cell receptor. In the absence of the potent tolerizing class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecule, I-E, peripheral expression of V beta 17a+ T cell receptors varied with the MHC haplotype of the mouse strain. In the most extreme case, H-2q mice expressed high peripheral levels of CD4+ V beta 17a+ T cells (14 to 19 percent), whereas H-2b mice expressed low levels (3 to 4 percent). Analysis of (b x q)F1 mice and chimeric mice showed that these differences were determined by positive thymic selection and implicated the thymic epithelium as the controlling cell type.
Blackman
M A
MA
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Denver, CO.
Marrack
P
P
Kappler
J
J
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology; D002678:Chimera; D006183:H-2 Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006239:Haplotypes; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex; D051379:Mice; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000276:immunology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D006183:H-2 Antigens; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region