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. 1990 Oct;87(20):7935–7938. doi: 10.1073/pnas.87.20.7935

Selection of gamma delta T cells with canonical T-cell antigen receptors in fetal thymus.

S Itohara 1, S Tonegawa 1
PMCID: PMC54866  PMID: 2236011

Abstract

Two gamma delta T-cell subsets that are generated in the fetal thymus and selectively localize in epidermis and uterus-vagina-tongue epithelia exhibit remarkable homogeneity in their (T-cell) antigen receptors (TCR). In the present study, we show that cells expressing the canonical gamma delta TCR are also generated in fetal thymus organ cultures. Treatment of these cultures with anti-gamma delta TCR antibodies did not prevent gamma delta T-cell development but led to a striking increase in the frequency of noncanonical in-frame sequences. We conclude from this finding that cells expressing the canonical TCR accumulate selectively as a result of TCR-mediated positive selection in the fetal 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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