Open AccessLigation of CD8 leads to apoptosis of thymocytes that have not undergone positive selection
Author(s) -
Kristie M. Grebe,
Raedun Clarke,
Terry A. Potter
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.0402079101
Subject(s) - thymocyte , cd8 , apoptosis , double negative , t cell receptor , programmed cell death , biology , mhc class i , microbiology and biotechnology , cd3 , immunology , cancer research , t cell , immune system , genetics
Thymocytes that are not positively selected are said to undergo "death by neglect." We have found that ligation of CD8, either by antibodies or MHC class I molecules, induces apoptosis of CD4(+)CD8+ double-positive (DP) thymocytes. The susceptibility of thymocytes to CD8-mediated apoptosis is developmentally regulated and confined to a subpopulation of DP thymocytes. Stimulation through CD3 protects thymocytes from CD8-mediated apoptosis. We suggest that during thymocyte development, binding of CD8 to MHC class I molecules without T cell receptor engagement induces apoptosis in immature DP thymocytes. Our data are consistent with a model in which thymocytes that do not survive positive selection undergo "death by instruction" instead of death by neglect.