title: Evidence for programmed cell death of self-reactive gamma delta T cell receptor-positive thymocytes.
abstract: The negative selection of T cells expressing the gamma delta T cell antigen receptor (gamma delta T cells) was studied using transgenic mice expressing a gamma delta receptor with specificity for an H-2T-linked class I major histocompatibility complex molecule from H-2b mice. The potentially self-reactive gamma delta thymocytes in H-2b/d transgenic mice are larger and have lower levels of gamma delta T cell receptor expression than gamma delta thymocytes from H-2d mice. H-2b/d gamma delta thymocytes do not respond to H-2b antigen-presenting cells, and thus are inactive compared to H-2d gamma delta thymocytes. However, the H-2b/d gamma delta thymocyte population, but not the H-2d gamma delta thymocyte population, undergoes a high rate of programmed cell death when placed in overnight culture. These observations constitute the first direct evidence that self-reactive gamma delta thymocytes undergo programmed cell death. This in vitro programmed cell death of self-reactive gamma delta thymocytes may reflect the clonal deletion process that results in a depletion of gamma delta T cells in the peripheral lymphoid organs of adult H-2b/d mice. We also present evidence that self-reactive gamma delta T cells, similarly to alpha beta T cells, undergo a lesser degree of clonal deletion in neonatal mice compared to adult mice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla 92093.
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Dent
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Matis
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Bluestone
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Hedrick
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000276:immunology*; D015551:Autoimmunity; D006183:H-2 Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D064532:Histocompatibility Antigen H-2D; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008954:Models, Biological; D010641:Phenotype; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000378:metabolism*; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D006183:H-2 Antigens; D064532:Histocompatibility Antigen H-2D; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta