Thymic selection of CD8+ single positive cells with a class II major histocompatibility complex-restricted receptor.
We describe mice that express a transgenic T cell receptor alpha/beta (TCR-alpha/beta) specific for peptide 111-119 from influenza hemagglutinin presented by I-Ed class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. The transgenic TCR is expressed on CD4+8- as well as CD4-8+ mature T cells even in mice that are deficient in rearrangement or do not express endogenous TCR-alpha genes. The CD4-8+ T cells require I-Ed class II MHC molecules for positive selection and can be activated to proliferate and to kill by I-Ed molecules presenting the relevant peptide. Full maturation of these cells, however, also requires the presence of class I MHC molecules. The results are compatible with the notion that T cell maturation requires multiple receptor-ligand interactions and establish an exception to the rule that class II-restricted TCRs are exclusively expressed by mature CD4+8- cells.
Kirberg
J
J
Basel Institute for Immunology, Switzerland.
Baron
A
A
Jakob
S
S
Rolink
A
A
Karjalainen
K
K
von Boehmer
H
H
D000818:Animals; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000502:physiology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000276:immunology*
D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D011506:Proteins; C499308:Rag2 protein, mouse; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; C064655:V(D)J recombination activating protein 2