Abstract
The thymus positively selects thymocytes that bear T-cell receptors which recognize antigen presented by self major histocompatibility complex (MHC) proteins. Positive selection is usually driven by MHC products on radiation-resistant cortical epithelial cells. It is unknown whether positive selection is mediated by all thymic epithelial cells or by some specialized subsets. Here we introduce an H-2b-expressing thymic epithelial cell line into the thymuses of lethally irradiated H-2k animals reconstituted with H-2b/k F1 BM or fetal liver cells. I-Ab-restricted T cells are found in these animals, demonstrating that selection occurs on the introduced epithelial cells.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Antigen-Presenting Cells / immunology*
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Bone Marrow Transplantation / immunology
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Cell Line
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Cells, Cultured
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Clone Cells
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Enterotoxins / immunology
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Epithelium / immunology
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Female
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Fetal Tissue Transplantation / immunology
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H-2 Antigens / immunology
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Hybridomas / immunology
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Interferon-gamma / pharmacology
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Liver Transplantation / immunology
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Mice, Inbred Strains
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Ovalbumin / immunology
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Spleen / immunology
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Staphylococcus aureus
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T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
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Thymus Gland / immunology*
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Thymus Gland / radiation effects
Substances
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Enterotoxins
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H-2 Antigens
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enterotoxin B, staphylococcal
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Interferon-gamma
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Ovalbumin