β2-Microglobulin deficient mice lack CD48+ cytolytic T cells

M Zijlstra, M Bix, NE Simister, JM Loring, DH Raulet… - Nature, 1990 - nature.com
M Zijlstra, M Bix, NE Simister, JM Loring, DH Raulet, R Jaenisch
Nature, 1990nature.com
Mice homozygous for a β2-microglobulin gene disruption do not express any detectable β2-
ITL protein. They express little if any functional major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class
I antigen on the cell surface yet are fertile and apparently healthy. They show a normal
distribution of γδ, CD4+ 8+ and CD4+ 8− cells, but have no mature CD4− 8+ cells and are
defective in CD4− 8+ cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Our results strongly support earlier evidence
that MHC class I molecules are crucial for positive selection of T cell antigen receptor αβ+ …
Abstract
Mice homozygous for a β2-microglobulin gene disruption do not express any detectable β2-ITL protein. They express little if any functional major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I antigen on the cell surface yet are fertile and apparently healthy. They show a normal distribution of γδ, CD4+8+ and CD4+8 cells, but have no mature CD48+ cells and are defective in CD48+ cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Our results strongly support earlier evidence that MHC class I molecules are crucial for positive selection of T cell antigen receptor αβ+ CD48+ T cells in the thymus and call into question the non-immune functions that have been ascribed to MHC class I molecules.
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