Switching the CD4 and CD8 coreceptor proteins encoded in Cd4 and Cd8 loci results in a reversed T cell immune system, with CD4+ cytotoxic T cells and CD8+ helper T cells. Thus, whichever coreceptor is encoded in Cd4 promotes a helper lineage fate, and whichever is encoded in Cd8 promotes a cytotoxic lineage fate.
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References
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This is a summary of: Shinzawa, M. et al. Reversal of the T cell immune system reveals the molecular basis for T cell lineage fate determination in the thymus. Nat. Immunol. https://doi.org/10.1038//s41590-022-01187-1 (2022).
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Reversing T cell immunity reveals the basis for T cell lineage fate determination. Nat Immunol 23, 656–657 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41590-022-01195-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41590-022-01195-1