A novel T-lymphocyte molecule that may function in the induction of self-tolerance and MHC-restriction within the human thymic microenvironment.

T-cell differentiation is known to take place in the thymus, but the precise mechanisms involved remain unresolved. In order to analyse the role of the thymic microenvironment in thymocyte maturation and generation of the T-cell repertoire, we have raised monoclonal antibodies (mAb) to thymic stromal cells, and with these can recognize, in the non-lymphoid component of the thymus, several antigenically distinct compartments. One mAb, MR6, binds …