In Vivo Calcium Elevations in Thymocytes with T Cell Receptors That Are Specific for Self Ligands

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 257; no. 5066; pp. 96 - 99
• Main Authors: Nakayama, Toshinori, Ueda, Yuji, Yamada, Hidehiro, Shores, Elizabeth W., Singer, Alfred, June, Carl H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Society for the Advancement of Science 03.07.1992; American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Subjects: Animals; Antigen receptors, T cell; Biological and medical sciences; Calcium; Calcium (Nutrient); Calcium - metabolism; Calcium in the body; Calcium, Dietary; CD4 Antigens - analysis; CD8 Antigens - analysis; Cytometry; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; Histograms; Immunobiology; Ligands; Lymphoid cells: ontogeny, maturation, markers, receptors, circulation and recirculation; Male; Mice; Mice, Transgenic; Negative selection; Phenotype; Phenotypes; Physiological aspects; Receptors; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell - genetics; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell - physiology; Sex Characteristics; Signal Transduction; Spleen - immunology; T cell antigen receptors; T cells; T lymphocytes; T-Lymphocyte Subsets - immunology; T-Lymphocytes - immunology; T-Lymphocytes - physiology; Thymocytes; Thymus Gland - immunology; Transgenic animals; Vertebrata; Mammalia; T cell receptor; Thymus gland; Calcium; Mouse; Thymocyte; Selection; Rodentia; T-Lymphocyte; Transgenic animal; Intracellular
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.1621102

Selection of the T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire in the thymus probably involves TCR-mediated signals transduced in developing thymocytes after interaction with thymic stromal cells bearing self ligands. TCR-transduced signals should have identifiable consequences that would distinguish thymocytes whose TCRs have been engaged by self ligands from those whose TCRs have not. Among thymocytes expressing a transgenic TCR of defined specificity, a large number had elevated intracellular calcium concentrations but only when resident in a negatively selecting thymus in which their self ligand was expressed. Thus, developing thymocytes are stimulated by endogenous ligands in vivo to mobilize intracellular calcium, and increased intracellular calcium concentrations may reflect the consequences of intrathymic signaling associated with thymic negative selection.