CD8 surface levels alter the fate of α/β T cell receptor-expressing thymocytes in transgenic mice Journal Article


Authors: Lee, N. A.; Loh, D. Y.; Lacy, E.
Article Title: CD8 surface levels alter the fate of α/β T cell receptor-expressing thymocytes in transgenic mice
Abstract: The mature T cell receptor (TCK) repertoire is established on the basis of discriminative events involving binding of the TCR α and β chains and CD4 or CD8 on immature thymocytes to major histocompatibility complex (MHC)Aelf-peptide complexes expressed in the thymus. To ask whether the strength of the interaction between a CDS/TCR complex and a MHC/selfpeptide ligand plays a pivotal role in deciding the fate of a maturing thymocyte, we generated lines of transgenic mice that express distinct and elevated levels of CD8α, approximately 2, 3, and 6-10 times. These lines were then crossed to a transgenic line expressing the class I-restricted TCR, 2C. We found that thymocytes expressing the 2C TCR in combination with the highest levels of CD8 were deleted on the H-2 K b background that is normally positively selecting for the 2C TCR. In contrast, thymocytes coexpressing the 2C TCR and moderately elevated levels of CD8 were selected for maturation. These results demonstrate dir ctly that CD8 levels can affect the developmental fate of a maturing thymocyte and argue in support of an affinity model for thymocyte selection. © 1992, Rockefeller University Press., All rights reserved.
Keywords: nonhuman; flow cytometry; cd8 antigen; antigen expression; t lymphocyte; animal cell; mouse; animal; mice; cell survival; cell maturation; spleen; animal experiment; transgenic mouse; mice, transgenic; t lymphocyte receptor; t lymphocyte receptor beta chain; thymus; thymus gland; t-lymphocyte subsets; major histocompatibility complex; thymocyte; receptors, antigen, t-cell, alpha-beta; antigens, cd8; t lymphocyte receptor alpha chain; priority journal; article; support, non-u.s. gov't
Journal Title: Journal of Experimental Medicine
Volume: 175
Issue: 4
ISSN: 0022-1007
Publisher: Rockefeller University Press  
Date Published: 1992-04-01
Start Page: 1013
End Page: 1025
Language: English
DOI: 10.1084/jem.175.4.1013
PUBMED: 1532412
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC2119190
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Source: Scopus
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  1. Elizabeth H Lacy
    74 Lacy