Positive selection of thymocytes bearing alpha beta T cell receptors.
The past year has been marked by the application of new technologies to study thymocyte development. These studies have shown that positive selection affects a surprisingly large proportion of thymocytes, and now are beginning to investigate the affinities/avidities of the reactions involved. The lengthy controversy over how thymocytes decide whether to express CD4 or CD8 has taken a new turn with the discovery that levels of expression of the fate-determining protein Notch may affect the decision.
Marrack
P
P
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Medicine, National Jewish Center, Denver, CO 80206, USA. P.Marrack@ispop.njc.org
Kappler
J
J
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000032:analysis*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology
D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta