title: Class II major histocompatibility complex molecules regulate the development of the T4+T8- inducer phenotype of cultured human thymocytes.
abstract: We demonstrate that a variety of Ia+ cells has the ability to promote the development of human T4+T8- thymocytes in vitro. Prolonged thymocyte culture in the absence of Ia+ accessory cells results in a predominantly T8+T4- cell population. The generation of T4+ cells in the presence of irradiated Ia+ cells could be suppressed up to 70% by a monoclonal antibody directed against a nonpolymorphic epitope on HLA-DR. Using two-color fluorescence sorting techniques, we were able to identify the activated T4+T8+ thymocyte as the cell that interacts with Ia and gives rise to the T4+T8- cell subset. These results directly and specifically implicate class II major histocompatibility complex molecules in the differentiative pathway of the human thymocyte.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Blue
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Daley
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Levine
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Schlossman
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000276:immunology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II