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Publication
The multigenic structure of the MHC locus contributes to positive selection efficiency: A role for MHC class II gene-genespecific
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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
The study of T cell positive selection in the thymus has long been focused on the
specificity of the MHC-TCR interactions, making use of genetically manipulated mice
that display TCR specificities or selecting peptides of limited diversity. However, little is
known on the role of the MHC molecules irrespective of the peptide specificity and the
implications of MHC multigenic structure in thymic positive selection have not been
addressed. Here, we investigated the effect of MHC class II genetic configuration on the
positive selection efficiency of naturally generated pre-selection repertoires in the
mouse thymus. Analysis of positively selected thymocyte populations in MHC-congenic
and -transgenic mice revealed that expression of I-E molecule in the thymic cortex
increases positive selection efficiency of CD4 cells by approximately 50%.We show that
increments in positive selection attributable to either the I-A and I-E genes are not due to
increased MHC class II expression in the thymic cortex and are not affected by the
number of MHC alleles. Collectively, our findings imply that MHC class II generestricted
TCR specificities significantly contribute to positive selection efficiency,
introducing the notion that multigenic structure of the MHC locus serves to increase
selection of non-overlapping TCR repertoires.
Description
This deposit is in restrictedAccess (it can't be in open access to the public), and can only be accessed by two ways: either by requesting a legal copy from the author (the email contact present in this deposit) or by visiting the following link: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/eji.200535190
Keywords
MHC Multigenic Repertoire development Thymic selection
Citation
Monteiro, M. C., Couceiro S., Penha-Gonçalves C. (2013). The multigenic structure of the MHC locus contributes to positive selection efficiency: a role for MHC class II gene-specific restriction. European Journal of Immunology. 35(12): 1-10