T-cell development in T cell receptor alphabeta transgenic mice.
The introduction of rearranged T cell receptor alpha and beta chain genes into transgenic mice results in a high frequency of expression of the introduced receptor on T cells. In three different systems, analyses of mice expressing transgenic T cell receptors specific for antigen plus MHC class I or class II molecules have demonstrated several important features of T cell development: (1) T cell receptor specificity for MHC class I or class II molecules determines the expression of CD8 versus CD4, respectively, on mature T cells; (2) T cell maturation in the thymus is dependent on expression of an MHC molecule recognized by the T cell receptor; (3)for class II specific receptors, appropriate MHC expression on thymic epithelial cells is sufficient to achieve positive selection of T cells; and (4) self-reactive T cells die or are killed in the thymus.
Berg
L J
LJ
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
Davis
M M
MM
D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D017637:Clonal Deletion; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000235:genetics*; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D037182:T-Cell Antigen Receptor Specificity; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000276:immunology*
D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta