title: Characteristics of an in vitro system of thymocyte positive selection.
abstract: We investigated the phenotypic changes accompanying maturation of CD4+CD8+ thymocytes in the presence of thymic stomal cells in vitro. Many of the features that are characteristic of positive selection in vivo, such as an ordered down-regulation of CD4 or CD8 together with up-regulation of the TCR-alpha beta complex, also occurred in vitro. Transient expression of CD69 was also observed, together with activation of IL-2 and IL-4 cytokine genes, providing further evidence that positive selection in vitro involves a pattern of gene regulation comparable to that seen in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Medical School, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Owen
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Jenkinson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000378:metabolism; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000378:metabolism; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology; D000099192:CD69 Antigens
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D016207:Cytokines; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D000099192:CD69 Antigens