A cell line that can induce thymocyte positive selection

Abstract

THE thymus positively selects thymocytes that bear T-cell receptors which recognize antigen presented by self major histocompatibility complex (MHC) proteins1,2. Positive selection is usually driven by MHC products on radiation-resistant cortical epithelial cells3-5. It is unknown whether positive selection is mediated by all thymic epithelial cells or by some specialized subsets4. Here we introduce an H-2b- expressing thymic epithelial cell line into the thymuses of lethally irradiated H-2k animals reconstituted with H-2b/k F1 BM or fetal liver cells. I-Ab-restricted T cells are found in these animals, demonstrating that selection occurs on the introduced epithelial cells. © 1992 Nature Pub..