title: The major histocompatibility complex-restricted antigen receptor on T cells: distribution on thymus and peripheral T cells.
abstract: A monoclonal antibody, KJ16-133, which binds to antigen-specific, major histocompatibility complex-restricted (Ag/MHC) receptors on about 20% of BALB/c peripheral T cells has been used to examine the expression of these receptors on thymocytes and different subpopulations of peripheral T cells. Although KJ16-133-reactive receptors were found on mature thymocytes at similar frequencies and levels as on peripheral T cells, these molecules were absent from the first cells to enter the thymus, and in less mature thymocyte populations KJ16-133-reactive cells were less frequent than in the periphery and bore lower quantities of receptor. These results showed that Ag/MHC receptors are present on the surfaces of immature thymocytes, albeit at variable levels, during the time that the repertoire of these cells for Ag/MHC is thought to be selected. Additional experiments showed that KJ16-133 could not be used to distinguish T-cell receptors with different restriction specificities, i.e., for Class I or Class II products of the MHC.
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D000950:Antigens, Ly / Q000032:analysis; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000276:immunology*; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000950:Antigens, Ly; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell