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. 1991 May 3;65(3):443-9.
doi: 10.1016/0092-8674(91)90462-8.

CD8 is needed for development of cytotoxic T cells but not helper T cells

W P Fung-Leung  1 , M W Schilham, A Rahemtulla, T M Kündig, M Vollenweider, J Potter, W van Ewijk, T W Mak
Affiliations

CD8 is needed for development of cytotoxic T cells but not helper T cells

W P Fung-Leung et al. Cell. .

Abstract

A mutant mouse strain without CD8 (Lyt-2 and Lyt-3) expression on the cell surface has been generated by disrupting the Lyt-2 gene using embryonic stem cell technology. In these mice, CD8+ T lymphocytes are not present in peripheral lymphoid organs, but the CD4+ T lymphocyte population seems to be unaltered. Cytotoxic response of T lymphocytes from these mice against alloantigens and viral antigens is dramatically decreased. Proliferative response against alloantigens and in vivo help to B lymphocytes, however, are not affected. These data suggest that CD8 is necessary for the maturation and positive selection of class I MHC restricted cytotoxic T lymphocytes but is not required on any of the intermediate thymocyte populations (CD8+CD4-TcR- or CD4+CD8+TcRlow) during the development of functional class II MHC restricted helper T cells.

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