Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
12
pubmed:dateCreated
1998-9-28
pubmed:abstractText
The thymic preference for CD4+ T cells over CD8+ T cells is often attributed to a default pathway favouring CD4+ T cells or to homeostatic mechanisms. It is also clear, however, that T-cell receptor (TCR) preferences for major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I versus class II binding will strongly influence an individual clone's skewing to the CD4 or CD8 subset. The variable region of each TCR alpha chain (V alpha) studied to date is found to be overrepresented in either CD4+ or CD8+ cells, suggesting that each V alpha element can interact more favourably with either MHC class I or class II molecules. Indeed, TCRs appear to have an intrinsic ability to interact with MHC molecules, and single amino acid residues present in germline-encoded complementarity determining region 1 (CDR1) and CDR2 of the V alpha element can be responsible for determining MHC specificity. Interestingly, the degree of CD4/CD8 skewing is variable among different mouse strains and in human populations. Here, we have shown that polymorphism in CD4/CD8 skewing between B6 and BALB/c mice is determined by the stem cell genotype and not by environmental effects, and that it maps in or near the TCR alpha-chain complex, Tcra. This was confirmed by comparing Tcra(b) with Tcra(a) or Tcra(c) haplotypes in congenic mice. We propose that the array of V alpha genes in various Tcra haplotypes exerts influence over the proportion of CD4 and CD8 subsets generated and may account in part for the observed thymic skewing. Thus, while it has been suggested that the TCR genes have been selected by evolution for MHC binding, our results further indicate selection for class II MHC preference.
pubmed:grant
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Jun
pubmed:issn
0960-9822
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:day
4
pubmed:volume
8
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
701-4
pubmed:dateRevised
2007-11-14
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1998
pubmed:articleTitle
Thymic skewing of the CD4/CD8 ratio maps with the T-cell receptor alpha-chain locus.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Immunology, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, USA.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S., Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't