Figure 4.

(a) Negative selection of Tg^b/d Vγ2⁺ neonatal thymocytes is attenuated in day 2 neonatal thymus. The total number of Vγ2⁺ neonatal thymocytes is reduced by approximately 50% in Tg^b/d neonatal thymus when compared with Tg^d/d neonatal thymus. Data are shown as the mean of more than 20 neonatal thymus lobes examined separately for each group. (b) The TL^b self-Ag is functionally present in the neonatal Tg^b/d thymus. To test for the functional presence of the TL^b Ag, 10⁵ irradiated stimulator cells were cultured with adult Tg^d/d thymocytes that were sorted to remove TCR β cells to avoid a nonspecific allogeneic response. Data shown represent 1 of 2 independent experiments.