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. 1984 Feb;81(4):1221–1224. doi: 10.1073/pnas.81.4.1221

Thymic T cells are driven to expand upon interaction with self-class II major histocompatibility complex gene products on accessory cells.

K L Rock, B Benacerraf
PMCID: PMC344798  PMID: 6608107

Abstract

Murine thymocytes induce the monokine interleukin 1 upon in vitro coculture with a radioresistant Ia-bearing accessory cell [murine Ia molecule is a class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigen]. The generation of interleukin 1 is critically dependent on the function of I-region gene products on accessory cells. The induced interleukin 1 appears to allow the activation and proliferation of self-MHC-specific thymocytes. Thus, in the absence of added exogenous factors, there is an Ia-dependent thymocyte proliferation. This selective activation of thymocytes is observed with both mature and immature thymic T cells. This in vitro response results in the selective amplification of developing T cells with self-MHC specificity and could be of importance to the in vivo commitment of T cells to MHC determinants that occurs in the thymus.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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