Abstract
ONE mechanism ensuring self tolerance of T cells is the clonal deletion of thymocytes bearing αβ T-cell receptors1–4. The stage of thymocyte development at which the interaction with antigen-presenting cells (APCs) leads to deletion, however, has not been determined directly. Indirect evidence suggests that intrathymic APCs induce deletion of CD4+8+ thymocytes3–6 (which die by apoptosis7) but deletion at less8 and more mature9 developmental stages has also been implied. It is also not clear if clonal elimination of thymocytes can be triggered by peripheral antigens carried on extrathymic APCs migrating through the thymus10. Here we show antigen-specific induction of apoptosis in CD4+8+ thymocytes cultured in suspension, by thymic as well as splenic APCs. Thus the recognition of antigen by CD4+8+ thymocytes may lead to deletion, suggesting that this is the central mechanism of tolerance induction, which is not limited by the antigen-presenting ability of the thymic stroma.
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Swat, W., Ignatowicz, L., von Boehmer, H. et al. Clonal deletion of immature CD4+8+ thymocytes in suspension culture by extrathymic antigen-presenting cells. Nature 351, 150–153 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1038/351150a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/351150a0
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