| 摘要 |
A mutant mouse strain without CD4 expression has been generated by disrupting the CD4 gene using embryonic stem cell technology. In these mice CD4+ T lymphocytes are not present in peripheral lymphoid organs, but the development of CD8+ T cells and myeloid components is unaltered, indicating that expression of CD4+ on progenitor cells and CD4+ CD8+ (double positive) thymocytes is not obligatory. These mice have markedly decreased helper cell activity for antibody responses, whereas cytotoxic T cell activity against viruses was within normal range of that generated by CD4+ mice. This differential requirement for CD4+ helper T cells has important implications for the understanding of the immune function in a variety of immune disorders, including AIDS, in which the CD4+ cells are reduced or absent.
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