Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

Functions elicited from mature T cells depend on the nature of the Ag. Thus, an agonist induces a larger set of cytokine responses than a partial agonist. Additionally, Ags present in the thymus influence both the selection of TCRs generated by gene rearrangement and the potential functional program of developing thymocytes. This can be approached by analysing the development of T cells in mice expressing the same transgenic TCR (tgTCR) under different conditions of intrathymic selection. H-2Kbm8 was found to act as a partial agonist for CD8+ T cells expressing a tgTCR specific for the H-2Kb alloantigen. Intrathymic exposure to full or to partial agonist affected the development of thymocytes at different stages, consistent with the respective CD8-independent and -dependent characteristic of the tgTCR/Ag interaction. The presence of the partial agonist led to the accumulation of a major population of thymocytes (tgTCR(high) CD4- CD8(low)) originating from TCR engagement at the immature single-positive CD8(low) stage as evidenced by: 1) results from reaggregated thymic organ culture in the presence of H-2(k/bm8) thymic stromal cells; 2) the absence of CD4+ thymocytes, the development of which depends on rearrangements of endogenous TCR alpha genes; and 3) the identification of the CD8(low) thymocytes as cycling cells. Peripheral CD8(low) T cells selected in an H-2(k/bm8) thymus expressed a partial functional program in response to H-2Kb, akin to the response of CD8(high) T cells to a partial agonist. The analysis of the molecular bases for partial reactivity revealed a correlation with inefficient AP-1, but efficient NF-kappaB transactivation.

Type

Journal article

Journal

J Immunol

Publication Date

15/05/1998

Volume

160

Pages

4810 - 4821

Keywords

Animals, CD8 Antigens, Cell Differentiation, Cell Movement, H-2 Antigens, Hematopoietic Stem Cells, Lymphocyte Activation, Male, Mice, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Mice, Inbred CBA, Mice, Transgenic, Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, T-Lymphocytes, Transcription Factor AP-1