H-2 class I Ld antigen positively selects different TCR V beta gene products in CD8+ and CD4+ T cells.

Abstract

Expression of CD4+ or CD8+ determinants and ten different TCR V beta genes was analysed by two-colour flow cytometry in lymph node cells (LNC) of BALB/c and dm2 (a BALB/c Ld loss mutant) mice. TCR V beta 14 expression of CD8+ T cells and TCR V beta 7 and 14 of CD4+ T Cells were significantly more frequent in BALB/c than in dm2 LNC, whereas no differences were observed in the frequency distribution of TCR V beta+ CD4-CD8- double negative LNC from BALB/c versus dm2 mice. These results represent the first published evidence for positive selection of particular TCR V beta genes by individual MHC class I molecules in non-manipulated mice.