Abstract
The T cell repertoire is shaped by positive and negative selection of thymocytes that express low levels of T cell receptor (TCR) and both CD4 and CD8. TCR-mediated signals that determine these selection processes are only partly understood. Vav, a GDP-GTP exchange factor for Rho-family proteins, is tyrosine phosphorylated following TCR stimulation, suggesting that it may transduce TCR signals. We now demonstrate that mice lacking Vav are viable and display a profound defect in the positive selection of both class I- and class II-restricted T cells. In contrast, Vav is not essential far negative selection, though in its absence negative selection is much less effective. Vav may influence the efficiency of TCR-induced selection events by regulating the intracellular calcium flux of thymocytes.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 451-460 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Immunity |
Volume | 7 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Oct 1997 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Immunology and Allergy
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases