THYMOCYTE CASPASE ACTIVITY AND NEGATIVE SELECTION

摘要

Work described herein shows that T cell receptor triggering by peptide/MHC ligands activates a caspase in thymocytes, including CD4+CD8+ double positive thymocytes, resulting in their death. Methods of inhibiting apoptosis in thymocytes are described, as well as assays for identifying an agent which alters the activity of the caspase are described.