Open AccessClass II major histocompatibility complex molecules regulate the development of the T4+T8- inducer phenotype of cultured human thymocytes.
Author(s) -
MarieLuise Blue,
John Daley,
Herbert Levine,
Stuart F. Schlossman
Publication year - 1985
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.82.23.8178
Subject(s) - thymocyte , cell sorting , major histocompatibility complex , biology , monoclonal antibody , epitope , population , microbiology and biotechnology , phenotype , t cell , inducer , antigen , immunology , antibody , genetics , flow cytometry , gene , immune system , demography , sociology
We demonstrate that a variety of Ia+ cells has the ability to promote the development of human T4+T8- thymocytes in vitro. Prolonged thymocyte culture in the absence of Ia+ accessory cells results in a predominantly T8+T4- cell population. The generation of T4+ cells in the presence of irradiated Ia+ cells could be suppressed up to 70% by a monoclonal antibody directed against a nonpolymorphic epitope on HLA-DR. Using two-color fluorescence sorting techniques, we were able to identify the activated T4+T8+ thymocyte as the cell that interacts with Ia and gives rise to the T4+T8- cell subset. These results directly and specifically implicate class II major histocompatibility complex molecules in the differentiative pathway of the human thymocyte.