To be or not to be: mutually antagonistic death signals regulate thymocyte apoptosis.
Recognition of self-antigens by immature thymocytes results in either activation-induced apoptosis (negative selection) or survival (positive selection). While it is believed that T cell receptor avidity plays a role in determining the outcome, the mechanisms responsible for this life or death decision are not known. Recent data concerning the mutual antagonism between activation- and glucocorticoid-induced apoptosis have prompted an examination of the potential interaction of these two signaling pathways in the regulation of antigen-specific selection.
King
L B
LB
Laboratory of Immune Cell Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md 20892.
Vacchio
M S
MS
Ashwell
J D
JD
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006825:Hybridomas; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell