Abstract
Thymus-derived lymphocytes (T cells) recognize antigen in the context of class I or class II molecules encoded by the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) by virtue of the heterodimeric αβ T-cell receptor (TCR)1,2. CD4 and CDS molecules expressed on the surface of T cells bind to nonpolymorphic portions of class II and class I MHC molecules and assist the TCR in binding and possibly in signalling3,4. The analysis of T-cell development in TCR transgenic mice has shown that the CD4/CD8 phenotype of T cells is determined by the interaction of the αβ TCR expressed on immature CD4+8+ thymocytes with polymorphic domains of thymic MHC molecules in the absence of nominal antigen5. Here we provide direct evidence that positive selection of antigen-specific, class I MHC-restricted CD4−8+ T cells in the thymus requires the specific interaction of the αβ TCR with the restricting class I MHC molecule.
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Kisielow, P., Teh, H., Blüthmann, H. et al. Positive selection of antigen-specific T cells in thymus by restricting MHC molecules. Nature 335, 730–733 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1038/335730a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/335730a0
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