p145-MR6: A Novel T Cell Surface Molecule with a Role in Tolerance to Self

The role of the thymus in the generation of the T cell repertoire is well established (Gelfand et al., 1980; Cantor and Weissman, 1976), but remains poorly understood. In order to study the molecular influences within the microenvironment of the thymus we raised monoclonal antibodies to the stromal components of the thymic microenvironment as described previously (DeMaagd et al., 1985; Ritter et al., 1985). This study focuses on one such antibody, MR6, which reacts strongly with the cortical epithelium and medullary macrophage/dendritic cells (MO/DC), and less strongly with thymocytes and T cells (Larche et al., 1987). Functional studies on this molecule (pl45-MR6) lead us to believe that it may play a central role in the clonal “deletion ” of autoreactive T cells within the thymus.